COMMON  OBJECTIONS 


PROPOSED  .  DD  ANSWEREi 


D13PA;i|lO  >  -PB  '  ’YERSATIOrS. 


' 


1101 


1829 


JAMES  P.  WILSON,  D.D. 

'"*v.<fv .  o.'V- 

PASTOR  or  THE  riRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 
PHTEA-OELPHIA. 


uuslauelphia: 

D  EKOTHKR - CHESTNUT  STREE1  . 

.1629. 


•Society 

OF 


INQUIRY  ON  MISSIONS) 

AND  ^ 

THE  STATE  OF  RELIGION. 


BT  1101  .W5  1829 
Wilson,  James  P.  1769-1830. 
Common  objections  to 
Christianity 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  frort] 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 

,;:xV«afc  ’t. 

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https://archive.org/details/commonobjec1ions00wils_0 


COMMON  OBJECTIONS 


TO 

CHRISTIANITY, 

PROPOSED  AND  ANSWERED, 

IN  TWO 


DISPASSIONATE  CONVERSATIONS. 


BY 


JAMES  P.*  WILSON,  D.D. 


PAS'JOR  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 
PHILADELPHIA. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

t--.  I.1TTELL  AND  BROTHER - CHESTNUT  STREET. 

1829. 


Eastern  District  o  f  Pennsylvania ,  to  -wit: 

BE  XT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  May, 
in  the  fifty-third  year  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  A.  D.  1829,  E.  Littell  &  Brother,  of  the  said  district,  have 
deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  they  claim 
as  proprietors,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: 

“  Common  Objections  to  Christianity,  proposed  and  answered,  in 
two  dispassionate  Conversations.  By  James  P.  Wilson,  D.  D. 
Pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia.” 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  intituled, 
“  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies 
of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  co¬ 
pies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned”  and  also  to  the  act,  enti¬ 
tled,  “  An  act  supplementary  to  an  act,  entitled,  ‘An  act  for  the  en¬ 
couragement  of  feaniing,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and 
books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times 
therein  mentioned,’  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of 
designing,  engraving,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints.” 

D.  CALDWELL, 

Clerk  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


Clark  &  Baser,  Printers. 


A  CONVEBSATION 


IN  THE 

PACIFIC  OCEAN, 

BETWEEN 

MR.  HOBBES,  Captain, 

MR.  CHUBB,  Mate,  and 

The  Rev.  JEDEDIAH  ANDREWS,  a  returning  Mis¬ 
sionary. 


Captain  Hobbes.  This  fine  morning, 
Mr.  Andrews,  and  smooth  sea,  with  the 
prospect  of  returning  once  more  to  civil 
society,  of  meeting  your  friends  face  to 
face  on  your  native  soil,  and  mixing  again 
with  the  beloved  companions  of  your 
youth,  must  form  an  agreeable  contrast 
with  that  state  of  incarceration,  which  you 
have  so  long  endured  in  this  island,  with 
men  dead  to  knowledge,  and  to  every 
thing  that  renders  life  comfortable. 

Missionary.  I  do  not  deny,  Captain, 
that  I  am  sensible  to  the  enjoyments  of 


4 


the  world,  and  especially  to  those  social 
ties,  that  bind  men’s  hearts  together;  and 
that  I  am  delighted  with  the  prospect  of 
this  respite,  without  injury  to  the  cause  in 
which  I  have  embarked.  But  I  had  bid¬ 
den,  as  I  thought,  a  final  adieu  to  my  na¬ 
tive  land  and  the  civilized  world,  and  borne 
the  pangs  of  separation;  the  hope  of  an 
eternal  rest,  after  a  short  and  precarious 
life,  had  rendered  me  willing  to  go,  like 
Abraham,  to  a  land  unknown,  and  there 
spend,  and  be  spent,  till  God  should  call 
me  home. 

Captain.  Of  the  sincerity,  and  huma¬ 
nity,  of  the  missionaries  in  their  self-ba¬ 
nishment,  there  can  be  but  one  opinion ; 
but  of  the  wisdom  of  such  self-denial,  and 
exposure  to  danger,  and  every  evil,  I  hesi¬ 
tate.  We  pity  the  solitary  condition  of  the 
Israelite,  who  remains  a  pilgrim  in  every 
clime;  but  we  also  censure  his  obstinate  re¬ 
fusal  of  that  amalgamation,  without  which 
he  must  ever  remain  a  stranger  to  the  con¬ 
solations  derivable  only  from  social  life. 


5 


Missionary .  The  children  of  Jacob  are 
indeed  objects  of  commiseration,  broken 
off  hr  a  season,  that  vve  might  be  grafted 
in;  whilst  heirs  of  their  blessings,  we  ought 
to  love  them  for  their  fathers’  sakes. 
They  also  are  missionaries,  the  more  cre¬ 
dible,  because  involuntary,  sent  forth  into 
every  land,  bearing  the  records  of  eternal 
truth  in  support  of  Christianity;  and  at 
the  same  time  the  mournful,  but  veritable 
proofs  of  their  own  guilt  and  punishment; 
yet  is  the  happy  jubilee  not  distant,  when 
they  shall  understand  their  own  testimony, 
be  called  home  from  the  corners  of  the 
earth,  and  find  the  mercy  they  have  so 
long  resisted.  Your  censure  of  their  perti¬ 
nacity  in  error  is  nevertheless  just;  for 
whilst  accomplishing  the  mysterious  de¬ 
signs  of  sovereign  wisdom,  they,  as  moral 
agents  possessed  of  the  liberty  necessary  to 
responsibility,  voluntarily  oppose  his  go¬ 
vernment,  reject  the  warnings  of  Moses, 
despise  their  own  Messiah,  and  deservedly 
suffer  the  evils  he  foretold.  The  self-denial 

A  2 


6 


of  missionaries  is  not  I  hope  of  questiona¬ 
ble  propriety;  the  happy  effects  of  evange¬ 
lical  instruction  among  these  people,  have 
neither  escaped  your  notice,  nor  approba¬ 
tion. 

Mate .  The  present  deportment  of  the 
people  of  Hawaii,  compared  with  their 
conduct  upon  our  first  visit,  produces  al¬ 
most  a  distrust  of  my  own  recollections. 
Justice  must  award  to  the  missionaries  the 
credit  of  this  reformation,  which  is  at  least 
a  proof  of  their  charity,  if  not.  of  a  prudent 
regard  to  their  own  happiness.  I  would 
not  for  the  world  have  been  left,  as  they 
were,  upon  this  island  of  naked  savages, 
like  Daniel  in  the  den  of  lions. 

Captain.  The  amelioration  of  Sandwich 
morals  ought  not  to  be  hastily  referred  to 
an  increase  of  knowledge,  for  nature  was 
open  to  the  inspection  of  this  people  as  of 
all  others;  and  reason  might  have  taught 
them,  that  virtue  was  necessary  to  happi¬ 
ness;  but  they  preferred  the  savage  life, 
and  had  a  right  to  make  their  election. 


7 


The  missionaries  were  also  at  liberty  to 
risk  the  attempt  of  reclamation  ;  their  suc¬ 
cess  has  exceeded  hope.  They  found  them 
accessible  through  the  passion  of  fear, 
which  might  have  been  calculated  from 
their  ignorance:  also  when  they  toid  them 
of  mysteries,  their  simplicity  ensured  cre¬ 
dence;  but  their  minds  are  nevertheless,  at 
this  moment,  as  dark  as  formerly.  What 
can  they,  or  we,  with  all  our  advantages, 
know  of  a  being  infinite  in  time,  place, 
and  all  his  properties? 

Mate .  True,  whatever  we  conceive  is 
finite;  and  when  we  speak  of  any  thing  as 
infinite,  we  can  only  mean,  that  it  exceeds 
our  comprehension,  and  in  every  such  in¬ 
stance,  we  necessarily  use  words  without 
knowledge. 

Missionary.  Ideas  may  be  clear,  when 
they  are  not  adequate:  neither  of  you  have 
any  adequate  idea  of  the  production  of 
dreams,  of  the  recollection  of  past  events, 
or  of  the  diversity  of  the  impressions, 
which  excite  the  ideas  of  moral  good  and 


8 


evil;  yet  are  these  things  so  clear,  as  to 
exclude  all  doubt.  So  the  existence,  and 
many  of  the  attributes  of  the  First  Cause 
may  be  rendered  sufficiently  clear  to  pro¬ 
duce  decisive  effects  on  our  conduct;  yet 
is  it  undeniable,  that  our  ideas  of  them  are, 
and  ever  must  be  necessarily  inadequate. 
Mysteries  result  from  our  weakness,  and 
whilst  nothing  is  mysterious  to  the  Infinite 
understanding,  every  thing  becomes  so  to 
us,  when  our  inquiries  exceed  our  means 
of  information.  Accordingly  some  things 
intelligible  to  us,  remain  as  yet  mysteries 
to  these  islanders. 

Mate.  The  beauty,  order,  harmony  and 
mutual  subserviency  observable  in  visible 
objects,  compel  my  admission  of  a  Supreme 
directing  wisdom,  which  must  exist  in 
some  being,  whom  I  do  not  perceive;  but 
that  I  should  ever  have  arrived  at  this  in¬ 
ference,  from  the  things  I  behold,  or  have 
acknowledged  a  divine  existence  had  the 
idea  of  Deity  not  been  communicated  to 
me  by  tradition,  I  am  not  prepared  to  af- 


9 


firm.  It  seems  in  like  manner  questiona¬ 
ble,  whether  something;  more  than  the  light 
of  nature  was  not  essentially  necessary  to 
give  them  the  idea,  and  to  effect  the  change 
of  these  islanders  from  savages  to  sober, 
honest,  pious  people. 

Captain.  Mr.  Chubb,  have  you  inserted 
thedoctrine  of  a  particular  Providence  into 
your  creed?  You  ought  first  to  know  how 
these  islanders  ('nme  to  be  abandoned  from 
time  immemorial  to  such  savage  ignorance, 
and  wretchedness;  it  will  also  be  previous¬ 
ly  incumbent,  to  clear  the  character  of 
Deity,  of  all  the  physical,  and  moral  evil 
in  the  world. 

Missionary.  Captain,  the  face  of  nature, 
the  relations  and  mutual  adaptation  of 
things,  do  evince  the  existence  of  a  gene¬ 
ral  system;  and  if  the  universe  thus  con¬ 
stitutes  a  whole,  complete  in  all  its  parts, 
what  you  call  physical  evils,  are  not  such, 
but  necessary  constituents  of  the  entire 
scheme.  Moral  evils  are  then  also  like  the 
dark  ground  of  a  picture ;  and  equally  es- 


( 


10 


sential,  for  aught  we  know,  being  directed 
by  wisdom  to  the  production  of  good;  and 
the  justice,  which  punishes  them,  is  really 
goodness,  guided  by  wisdom,  and  executed 
by  power.  The  atheist  knows  the  proper¬ 
ties  of  light,  and  understands  the  construc¬ 
tion  of  the  eye,  every  part  of  which  per¬ 
forms  its  own  office,  and  all  of  them  con¬ 
stitute  a  whole,  adapted  to  transmit  and 
converge  the  rays,  and  to  place  the  image 
of  any  object  upon  the  nerve,  at  the  plea¬ 
sure  of  the  party.  He  knows  that  neither 
the  eye  formed  the  light,  nor  the  light  the 
eye,  yet  that  if  there  were  a  defect  of  parts 
in  the  latter,  or  of  properties  in  the  former, 
creatures  must  perish  in  darkness.  Never¬ 
theless,  with  these  and  numberless  other 
proofs  of  wise  design  before  his  face,  he 
denies  the  evidence  of  wisdom,  power  and 
goodness,  and  retires  into  the  chilling  dark¬ 
ness  of  gloomy  despair.  But  these  secluded 
people  have  had  no  advantages  from  civili¬ 
zation  or  science;  and  must  account  only 
for  what  they  might  have  gleaned  from  na- 


11 


ture,  in  their  insular  savage  condition;  nor 
has  their  guilt  been  aggravated  by  the  re¬ 
jection  of  revealed  truth;  their  ignorance 
may  therefore  one  day  prove  an  alleviation; 
nevertheless  their  wretchedness ,  which  has 
been  scarcely  realized,  has  in  no  instance 
impeached  justice.  Now  their  talents  ac¬ 
cumulate,  and  mercy  of  set  purpose,  at  its 
appointed  time,  has  sent  them  the  tidings 
of  immortal  life,  for  the  God  of  nature  saw 
the  end  from  the  beginning. 

Captain.  Your  particular  providence 
makes  you  a  fatalist;  for  every  event  must 
have  been  fixed,  or  it  could  not  have  been 
foreseen  and  foreknown. 

Missionary.  You  have  heard  me  admit, 
that  liberty  was  necessary  to  moral  agency; 
and  this  to  accountableness;  and  every  mis-, 
sionary  teaches  a  resurrection  and  judg¬ 
ment.  I  think  your  embarrassment  lies  in  a 
mistaken  idea  of  the  foreknowledge  of  Deity. 
Divine  and  human  knowledge  are  widely 
different  in  their  natures ,  as  well  as  de¬ 
grees,  but  you  refer  that  which  is  human 


12 


to  God.  We  know  things  because  they 
are;  th^y  exist  because  he  knows  them; 
our  ideas  are  the  pictures  of  things,  things 
are  the  patterns  of  his  ideas ;  for  his  wis¬ 
dom  and  power  create  them  conformed  to 
his  original  purposes.  Accordingly  the  sys¬ 
tem  of  the  universe  has  always  been  present 
to  his  view,  every  incident,  even  the  descent 
of  a  sparrow,  has  its  own  place,  and  volun¬ 
tary  agents,  free  from  constraint  and  restraint 
in  the  exercise  of  all  their  powers,  are 
among  the  means  he  has  selected;  and  with 
the  same  certainty  as  unintelligent  agents, 
they  accomplish  his  designs,  and  exhibit 
his  glory.  The  Christian  doctrine  of  pro¬ 
vidence  is  by  no  means  the  fate  of  the 
Stoics,  which  was  a  chain  of  necessary 
causes  and  effects,  an  unintelligent  ma¬ 
chine.  To  a  man  of  your  discernment  I 
need  not  suggest,  that  if  you  reject  both, 
as  your  words  imply,  you  have  but  one 
other  choice  to  make;  either  that  of  an 
imperfect  deity,  the  subject  of  motives;  or 
the  doctrine  of  chance,  blind  fortune. 


13 


which  must  conduct  you  unto,  and  leave 
you  in  blank  atheism. 

Mate.  If  atheists  are  certain  there  is  no 
God,  their  opposition  against  a  nonentity 
is  idle;  but  if  they  only  doubt  his  exist¬ 
ence,  they  should  take  the  side  of  most 
probability,  of  natural  religion. 

Missionary.  Then  you  are  no  atheist, 
Mr.  Chubb,  and  by  the  Captain’s  caution 
given  you  against  the  doctrine  of  a  particular 
providence,  you  are  nearer  to  Christianity 
than  he.  Does  your  idea  of  natural  religion 
comprehend  those  duties,  which  men  actu¬ 
ally  discover ,  or  those,  which  they  might 
discover  by  the  exercise  of  their  powers 
without  higher  assistance?  Or  do  you  un¬ 
derstand  by  it,  not  what  reason  discovers , 
but  what  it  approves,  howsoever  discovered? 

Mate.  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Andrews,  my 
advantages  of  education  have  been  inferior 
to  those  of  the  captain  and  yourself.  I  feel 
that  whilst  my  duty  is  my  truest  interest, 
my  interest  is  not  the  foundation  of  my 
duty,  but  that  I  am  under  higher  obliga- 

B 


u 


tions,  than  those  which  spring  from  utility; 
because  then  I  might  pay  the  forfeiture, 
and  be  innocent.  But  as  fatalism  renders 
prayer  unnecessary,  and  chance  excludes  it, 
what  place  does  it  find  in  your  representa¬ 
tion  of  providence  ? 

Missionary.  Prayer  stands  upon  the 
same  ground  as  every  other  duty.  Full 
scope  is  given  to  moral  agents;  and  effects 
follow  their  causes.  Means  are  connected 
with  the  end.  If  it  be  certain  that  we  shall 
reach  America  safely,  the  steering  and 
other  efforts  necessary  to  our  arrival,  are 
equally  certain.  So  the  prayer  of  faith 
will  produce  the  blessing. 

Captain.  You  represented  the  exhibi¬ 
tion  of  his  glory,  as  the  design  of  Deity  in 
all  his  works;  Mr.  Andrews,  of  what  pro¬ 
fit  are  human  commendations  to  Him? 

Missionary.  None;  If  thou  sinnest, 
what  dost  thou  against  him, — if  thou  art 
righteous,  what  prof  test  thou  him?  His 
own  pleasure  is  his  highest  end,  man’s  hap¬ 
piness  is  an  inferior  good.  Perfect  wisdom 


must  prefer  that  which  is  best.  His  hap¬ 
piness  is  ever  the  same,  before  and  since 
creation;  prior,  his  self-complacency  was 
as  great  in  the  contemplation  of  things 
possible,  as  it  is  now  in  their  actual  exist¬ 
ence.  In  both  periods  they  merely  reflect¬ 
ed  himself  to  himself,  for  all  things  are  of 
him  and  to  him.  Our  worship  is  but  a 
falling  in  with  the  scope,  or  great  design 
of  his  works;  and  even  that,  as  far  as  good, 
is  from  himself. 

Captain .,  It  is  impossible  that  these  ig¬ 
norant  islanders  should  have  weighed  these 
things,  and  fairly  arrived  at  truth;  and  if 
not,  they  are  either  deceived,  or  deceive, 
or  both. 

Missionary .  Many  of  them  are  unques¬ 
tionably  sincere ;  and  we  have  designed  no 
fraud,  when  we  determined  not  to  harass 
them  with  the  groundless  objections  played 
ofl  in  the  higher  circles,  in  Christian  coun¬ 
tries.  But  they  have  heard  of  the  pro¬ 
mises,  prophecies,  birth,  life,  doctrines, 
sufferings,  death,  resurrection  and  ascen- 


16 


sion  of  Christ,  seen  the  design  of  his  sacri¬ 
fice,  and  felt  their  need  of  the  Saviour. 
The  truth  may  be  believed,  when  all  the 
objections  have  not  been  presented ;  less 
evidence  will  convince  the  weak. 

Captain.  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  good 
intentions  of  the  missionaries;  their  suc¬ 
cess,  however,  from  an  ex  parte  exhibition 
of  evidence,  weighs  nothing  in  favour  of 
the  gospel.  The  excitement  of  enthusiasm, 
and  the  predominance  of.  sympathetic  feel¬ 
ing  in  such  untutored  minds,  perfectly  ac¬ 
cord  with  the  first  effects  of  this  gospel  in 
the  early  days. 

Missionary .  A  system  of  truth,  clear  as 
the  sun,  darkening  by  its  lustre  the  wis¬ 
dom  of  philosophers,  disbanding  the  priest¬ 
hoods,  casting  their  idols  to  the  moles  and 
bats,  changing  the  face  of  the  civilized 
world,  and  every  where  setting  the  heart 
at  rest,  sprang  not  from  ignorance.  Natural 
religion  and  unsanctified  wisdom  have  pro¬ 
duced  no  such  effects.  Moral  suasion  could 
not  have  changed  the  dispositions  of  this 


17 


people,  nor  have  produced  the  reformation 
of  so  many  thousands  from  the  lowest 
depths  of  moral  pollution. 

Mate.  1  profess  a  Christianity  as  old  as 
the  creation;  and  with  a  charity  that  Mr. 
Andrews  sees  fit  to  deny  to  me,  acknow¬ 
ledge,  that  the  same  faith,  that  in  Abraham 
subdued  kings,  in  Moses  kept  the  thou¬ 
sands  of  Israel  in  awe,  in  Joshua  conquered 
Canaan,  in  the  apostles  triumphed  on  the 
day  of  Pentecost,  has  in  Hawaii  tamed  the 
savages,  silenced  the  jugglers,  and,  without 
either  sabres  or  bayonets,  has  subdued  the 
island,  and  will  soon  predominate  over  all 
the  isles  of  the  Pacific. 

Captain.  Why  is  it,  Mr.  Chubb,  that 
neither  you  nor  I  have  been  convinced  by 
men  of  the  highest  education,  and  finest 
talents  ?  Refer  the  success  of  the  missiona¬ 
ries  in  the  Sandwich  Islands  to  the  help¬ 
less  ignorance  of  the  people,  compared  with 
the  superior  knowledge  of  their  teachers, 
excited  to  its  highest  energies  by  their  pre¬ 
carious  condition.  One  believes  because 

b  2 


18 


another  believes,  anti  the  rest  may  easily 
become  hypocrites  who  have  always  been 
liars. 

Missionary.  You  should  attribute  to  the 
doctrines,  not  the  teachers,  the  fruits  you 
have  witnessed.  What  were  a  few  fisher¬ 
men  contrasted  with  the  powerful,  learned, 
and  wise  among  the  Greeks,  Romans,  and 
Jews,  in  the  first  promulgation  of  the  gos¬ 
pel  ?  The  greatest,  wisest,  and  best  of  men 
in  successive  ages  have  fastened  their  hopes 
upon  it,  and  died  in  the  faith;  and  it  has 
elevated  from  the  lowest  walks  of  life,  the 
most  obscure,  to  seats  higher  than  the 
thrones  of  this  world  ;  and  to  this  hour  its 
words  are  most  powerful,  when  communi¬ 
cated  in  their  simplicity,  unembarrassed  by 
rhetorical  flourishes,  theatrical  pomp,  and 
theological  refinements. 

Mate.  The  extraordinary  effects  of  the 
teaching  in  these  islands  do  warrant  the 
inference,  of  something  unusual  in  the 
cause;  and  this  must  have  been  with  sim¬ 
plicity,  not  eloquence.  Retired  from  the 


19 


world,  there  was  no  temptation  for  the  mis¬ 
sionaries  to  preach  themselves  to  naked 
savages;  they  must  be  successful,  or  pro¬ 
bably  fall  themselves  a  sacrifice;  they 
therefore  talked  to  them  of  the  things,  they 
wished  them  to  know,  till  they  gained 
them  to  their  own  faith,  and  now  they  can 
live  together  in  safety. 

Missionary  W e  found  them  human,  and 
therefore  rational  beings,  and  moral  agents. 
We  convinced  them  that  they  were  fallen 
beings;  we  appealed  to  their  consciences, 
and  showed  them  their  freedom  from  con¬ 
straint  and  restraint,  and  that  they  are  re¬ 
sponsible;  for  this  is  the  condition  of  the 
best  and  of  the  worst  of  men.  We  opened 
to  them  the  word  of  God  written  by  vari¬ 
ous  persons,  of  different  ages,  places,  lan¬ 
guages  and  customs,  who  with  the  same 
harmonious  design  contributed  their  re¬ 
spective  parts,  and  thus  formed  a  whole. 
After  all  our  efforts,  it  is  probable,  that  we 
have  told  them  nothing  more,  and  it  is  pos¬ 
sible  not  half  so  many  .arguments  for  the 


t 


20 


gospel,  as  those  which  you  know.  But 
why  they  have  been  convicted  of  the  truth, 
have  submitted  to  the  gospel,  perform  its 
duties,  and  enjoy  its  peace  and  hope, 
whilst,  as  the  Captain  has  observed,  neither 
of  you  have  been  convinced  by  men  of 
the  highest  educa  tion ,  and  finest  talents , 
it  may  be  worth  the  pains  for  you  to  in¬ 
quire;  only  be  assured  of  two  things;  that 
such  is  the  condition  of  many  of  these 
islanders;  and  that  it  has  proceeded  from 
nothing  in  us,  that  you  perceive  not  in 
other  ministers,  whom  you  have  heard. 

Captain .  You  do  not  mean,  Mr.  An¬ 
drews,  that  the  inspiration  of  the  Spirit,  as 
you  call  it,  accompanies  the  teachings  of 
the  missionaries?  Establish  that,  show  me 
one  miracle,  and  I  will  admit,  that  you 
have  accounted  for  the  conversion  of  these 
islands. 

*  t  K  s'  >  t 

Missionary .  The  gifts  of  the  Spirit 
were  conferred  by  the  laying  on  of  the 
hands  of  the  apostles,  but  not  his  sanctify¬ 
ing  influences;  the  former  were  extraordi- 


21 


nary,  and  necessary  to  the  planting  of  the 
church;  the  latter  are  more  excellent,  and 
accompany  salvation.  These  only  are 
continued  to  this  day,  and  produce  success: 
these  have  been  bestowed  upon  the  people 
of  Hawaii,  and  have  produced  the  change 
you  witness. 

Mate.  The  light  of  nature  needs  no  mi¬ 
racles,  it  is  inextinguishable.  Miracle,  I 
have  understood,  expresses  only  that  the 
thing  is  inexplicable  by  him  who  uses  the 
term,  and  by  no  means,  that  the  event  is 
not  perfectly  natural. 

Missionary .  These  islanders  and  other 
pagans,  who  have  had  only  the  light  of  na¬ 
ture,  have  nevertheless  worshipped  objects 
superlatively  abominable;  either  therefore  it 
has  been  extinguished,  or  remained  a  near 
approximation  of  darkness.  The  object  of 
the  Christian’s  worship  is  the  God  of  na¬ 
ture,  and  the  worship  itself  in  all  points 
perfectly  rational.  Without  asserting  that 
miracles  are  accomplished  without  means, 
I  affirm  that  they  have  been  successfully 


used,  in  ancient  times,  as  powerful  evi¬ 
dence  of  a  mission  from  God;  and  that  the 
records  of  sucli  events  are  to  this  hour  cre¬ 
dible,  and  important  proofs  of  the  same 
things.  When  the  attention  of  a  whole 
synagogue  was  called  to  the  question,  whe¬ 
ther  a  withered  arm,  upon  which  every 
eye  was  fixed,  should  be  healed  on  the 
Sabbath;  and  after  the  discussion,  while  all 
were  silent,  and  all  intent  upon  the  object, 
he  is  bidden  to  stretch  it  forth,  and  he  at¬ 
tempts,  and  the  arm  is  restored,  confess¬ 
edly  by  the  power  of  God:  when  the  dead 
were  raised,  and  all  diseases  healed  in  the 
same  manner;  and  these  things  were  es¬ 
tablished  equally  by  the  testimony  of  the 
enemies,  and  friends  of  the  gospel;  the 
proof  is  competent  and  credible,  and  pre¬ 
ferable  to  a  continuance  of  the  same  ac¬ 
tions;  because  they  would  by  frequency 
have  ceased  to  be  miracles,  and  become  no 
better  evidence  than  the  common  acts  of 
Providence. 

Captain.  The  presumption  against  mi- 


23 


racles,  from  our  inexperience,  and  from 
their  opposition  to  the  course  of  nature, 
has  been  thought  to  preponderate  against 
any  testimony  of  such  facts. 

Missionary .  Such  presumption  like  all 
others  is  open  to  be  combated  by  opposite 
proofs;  for  if  either  our  ignorance  of  the 
proximate  cause,  or  the  novelty  of  the 
event,  were  a  just  reason  for  denying  the 
report  of  our  senses,  or  the  testimony  of 
others,  a  barrier  is  set  to  all  progress  in 
knowledge.  Miracles  were  not  for  dis¬ 
play,  but  for  a  divine  testimony  on  an  im¬ 
portant  occasion,  excluding  deception,  and 
in  opposition  to  moral  evil.  They  were 
usually  of  great  publicity;  and  the  record 
of  them  was  given  at  the  proper  place,  and 
time,  and  has  been  constantly  believed 
unto  this  hour.  The  cause,  which  they 
supported,  prospered  both  in  peace,  and  in 
persecution;  and  he  who  was  crucified  in 
the  reign  of  Tiberius,  was  in  Nero’s  wor¬ 
shipped  as  God,  and  that  in  the  emperor’s 
family.  Neither  the  wisdom,  philosophy, 


2  4 


and  eloquence  of  the  Greeks,  nor  the  laws 
of  the  pagan  establishment,  nor  malice,  nor 
false  zeal,  nor  inveterate  custom,  nor  the 
seductive  pleasures  of  the  age,  could  with¬ 
stand  its  influence.  They  ~“who  first  op¬ 
posed,  to  whom  it  was  first  offered,  and 
under  whose  name  it  was  at  first  allowed 
toleration,  and  who  remain  to  this  day  its 
unrelenting  enemies,  are  for  this  very 
cause  without  temple,  altar,  sacrifice  and 
priesthood;  without  government,  country, 
city  and  home,  and  must  remain  so  till 
they  acknowledge  their  own  Messiah. 

Captain.  There  is  a  cause  for  every 
thing;  the  Jews  bring  their  evils  on  them¬ 
selves;  I  think  as  little  of  their  revelations 
and  miracles  as  of  yours — I  claim  no  hypo¬ 
thesis. 

Missionary.  This  avowal  is  as  open  as 
unexpected.  Till  lately  writers  impugning 
the  gospel,  confessed,  as  Mr.  Chubb  does, 
Christianity ;  probably  from  regard  to  cha¬ 
racter,  or  safety ;  but  since  the  American, 
and  French  revolutions,  every  theist  is 


branded  as  on  the  high-road  to  become  a 
revelationist.  Rejecting  every  hypothesis, 
they  doubt  every  thing,  even  their  own 
doubts,  and  thus  deem  themselves  incapa¬ 
ble  of  being  assailed.  You  are  conscious, 
Captain,  that  you  cannot  avoid  thinking; 
and  as  you  reject  a  creation,  you  are 
obliged  to  hold,  however  secretly,  either 
a  fortuitous  origin,  or  an  eternal  existence 
and  succession  of  things;  but  should  you 
attempt  the  defence  of  either  of  these  cas¬ 
tles,  you  might  be  instantly  stormed  by 
either  Jews,  or  Christians. 

Captain.  Mr.  Andrews,  as  your  gospel 
originated  with  Jews,  they  best  know  its 
proofs;  how  do  you  account  for  their  un¬ 
relenting  opposition  to  it? 

Missionary .  A  particular  providence  is 
perfectly  compatible  with  human  liberty, 
and  the  justice  of  responsibility.  Their 
pride  was  wounded  :  they  expected  a  mighty 
temporal  prince,  and  had  not  concealed  from 
the  nations  their  hope  of  future  empire. 
Rut  God  gave  them  in  answer  to  those  pro- 


c 


26 


phecies,  on  which  their  hopes  were  found¬ 
ed,  a  poor  infant,  of  an  indigent  mother, 
born  in  a  stable,  cradled  in  a  manger,  rear¬ 
ed  as  a  mechanic  in  obscurity,  a  man  of  af¬ 
fliction,  fed  by  charity,  having  not  where 
to  lay  his  head,  mocked,  blindfolded,  beat¬ 
en,  spitten  upon  and  crucified  as  a  slave. 
They  think  their  honour  should  make  them 
foremost  in  his  rejection. 

Mate .  This  opposition  of  expectation 
and  accomplishment,  which  you  express  as 
the  cause  of  the  opposition  of  his  nation, 
creates  in  my  mind  a  difficulty  with  respect 
to  the  scheme  of  the  gospel.  I  do  not  dis¬ 
cern  how  so  good  a  man,  as  you  think 
Christ  was,  should  have  been  placed  by 
Providence  in  circumstances  of  so  much 
suffering;  nor  do  I  wonder  that  his  nation 
should  refuse  a  man,  of  habits  so  recluse,  as 
their  Messiah  :  nor  yet  that  the  Captain 
should  be  so  unwilling  to  believe  the  gospel. 

Missionary.  The  prophecies  and  gospel 
breathe  the  same  spirit,  which  every  mind 
opposes  till  the  disposition  is  changed.  The 


21 


prophecies  describe  his  birth,  life,  doc¬ 
trines  and  death,  with  historical  exactness; 
had  it  been  otherwise,  an  outcast  infant 
could  not  have  been  at  the  same  time  the 
dreaded  rival  of  a  powerful  king.  The  gos¬ 
pel  history  is  a  chain,  every  link  of  which 
is  verified  by  prophecies,  then,  and  still 
in  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Mr.  Chubb, 
what  could  riches  be  to  him,  who  is  pro¬ 
prietor  of  all  things?  What  human  adula¬ 
tion,  to  the  object  of  angelic  homage? 
Which  is  greater,  to  command  armies,  or 
the  winds  and  the  seas?  To  grace  the  ban¬ 
queting  table,  or  to  feed  the  hungry,  by 
causing  the  bread  to  grow,  as  they  put  it  to 
their  mouths?  Which  best  became  a  divine 
person,  to  kill  with  the  sword,  or  to  call  up 
the  dead  from  the  bier,  or  the  tomb  ?  Hum¬ 
ble,  unobtrusive,  mild,  sweet,  holy,  harm¬ 
less,  compassionate,  kind,  ever  doing  good, 
this  wonderful  man  nevertheless  spoke  with 
dignified  authority,  always  the  truth,  ever 
with  solemnity,  having  on  no  occasion  been 
seen  to  smile,  and  with  such  clearness  and 


28 

certainty  of  intelligence,  as  never  man  had 
spoken. 

Mate.  You  build  on  an  assumption  of  that 
which  I  cannot  yield  I  have  no  doubt  that 
Deity  can  make  communications  by  reveal¬ 
ing  to  the  minds  of  men,  but  I  know  not 
that  he  has  done  it,  and  can  form  no  con¬ 
ception  of  any  way  in  which  such  revela¬ 
tion  could  be  distinguished  from  delusion, 
human  testimony  being  in  such  case  incom¬ 
petent  proof. 

Missionary .  Mr.  Chubb,  do  you  believe 
it  impossible,  either  that  human  testimony 
should  be  true,  or  that  it  should  be  justly 
deemed  credible?  To  expect  mathematical 
certainty  in  matters  which  admit  only  of 
moral,  is,  to  say  the  least,  unreasonable. 
When  you  return  home,  if  you  should  men¬ 
tion  the  change  you  have  witnessed  in  the 
people  of  Hawaii,  some  gentleman  of  your 
creed  may,  doubt  your  veracity.  Should 
you  appeal  to  the  captain,  his  testimony 
amounts  to  no  more  than  moral  evidence; 
if  you  bring  the  ship’s  company  as  compur- 


2  9 


gators,  it  is  still  but  the  testimony  of  falli¬ 
ble  men,  whom  he  may  pronounce  deceivers, 
or  deceived  :  he  demands  mathematical,  and 
you  can  furnish  only  moral  certainty.  In 
the  same  way  that  your  character  is  vindi¬ 
cated,  the  book  of  revelation  is  sustained, 
and  thus  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  our 
knowledge  rests  upon  human  testimony. 
Instead  therefore  of  receiving  it  as  a  crite¬ 
rion  of  pre-eminent  discernment,  when  a 
gay  companion  treats  with  contempt  moral 
evidence  of  certainty ;  it  may  be  esteemed 
both  a  sure  mark  of  his  ignorance  of  the  na¬ 
ture  and  kinds  of  evidence;  and  also  a  di¬ 
rect  proof,  that  he  knows  himself  to  be  un¬ 
worthy  of  credit. 

Captain.  You  had  no  right,  Mr.  An¬ 
drews,  to  assume  my  belief  of  Jewish  pro¬ 
phecies,  for  I  had  disavowed  their  revela¬ 
tions;  grant  you  a  lever,  and  you  can 
weigh  the  moon. 

Missionary.  Pardon  me,  captain ;  I  thank 
you  for  the  just  correction;  the  desultory 
nature  of  our  conversation  seemed  to  pre- 

c  2 


30 


elude  an  orderly  method  of  argument, 
which  would  require  the  establishment 
first  of  the  genuineness,  then  of  the  authen¬ 
ticity,  and  afterwards  of  the  inspiration  of 
the  Scriptures;  all  which  I  confess  should 
have  been  accomplished,  before  arguments 
could  be  correctly  taken  from  the  fulfil¬ 
ment  of  prophecy.  But  with  a  man  of  edu¬ 
cation,  and  much  reading,  there  seemed  to 
be  less  occasion  to  be  guarded  against  the 
assumption  of  first  principles. 

Captain.  To  convince  you  of  my  since¬ 
rity,  I  acknowledge,  that  you  have  the 
books  of  the  Hebrews,  in  their  own  lan¬ 
guage;  also  in  the  Chaldee,  the  language  of 
their  captivity;  and  in  the  Greek,  which 
became  the  public  language;  and  I  have  no 
doubt,  that  they  were  much  the  same  at  the 
Christian  era,  as  in  our  own  day.  Also  you 
have  the  Samaritan  pentateuch  in  the  ori¬ 
ginal  Jewish  letter.  These  are  ancient 
proofs,  but  insufficient  to  establish  the  ge¬ 
nuineness  of  the  Old  Testament.  You 
have  also  arguments  for  authenticity  from 


31 


the  division  of  time,  the  effects  of  the  de¬ 
luge,  the  lengths  oflives,  the  ruins  of  em¬ 
pires  and  cities,  the  traditions  of  Abraham, 
Moses,  of  the  Exodus,  David,  Solomon  and 
others;  but  the  existence  of  a  few  common¬ 
places,  which  no  forgery  would  omit,  will 
not  establish  the  whole;  for  thus  Homer, 
Virgil  and  Shakspeare,  might  become  cre¬ 
dible  historians. 

Missionary.  The  variety  of  style  shows 
that  the  Hebrew  Scriptures  were  written 
neither  by  one  person,  nor  in  the  same  age; 
the  unity  of  design  evinces,  they  were  not 
the  invention  of  many.  They  are  quoted 
by  various  authors,  of  different  nations, 
most  ancient,  and  of  various  languages;  and 
no  period  can  be  shown,  when  the  Israel¬ 
ites  did  not  acknowledge  them,  and  Moses, 
as  the  person  by  whom  their  laws  were  writ¬ 
ten.  The  highest  and  best  evidence  there¬ 
fore,  that  the  nature  of  the  case  affords,  we 
have,  of  their  genuineness.  With  respect 
to  their  authenticity,  they  would  be  su¬ 
perseded  by  a  distinct  proof  of  every  fact; 


32 


1 


the  demand  is  also  unreasonable ;  it  is 
enough,  that  not  one  has  ever  been  found 
to  be  false,  a  detection,  which  their  early 
publicity  would  have  insured  ;  the  writers 
spare  neither  their  own,  nor  the  faults  of 
the  nation,  harmonizing  in  history,  doc¬ 
trines  and  duties.  And  in  the  moral  purity, 
simplicity  and  spirituality  of  the  whole, 
they  exceed  all  other  writings.  With  re¬ 
gard  to  inspiration ,  whether  by  sugges¬ 
tion,  or  superintendence,  its  possibility  is 
undeniable  by  all  who  admit  the  creation 
and  sustentation  of  the  soul;  the  reasona¬ 
bleness  of  the  hope  of  it,  is  admitted  by  the 
most  respectable  of  the  ancient  Greek  philo¬ 
sophers,  and  implied  in  the  numerous  pre¬ 
tensions  which  have  been  made  to  it.  It  is 
proved  by  miracles;  completion  of  prophe¬ 
cies;  the  majesty,  simplicity,  and  accord¬ 
ance  of  the  whole;  and  particularly  by  their 
effects  on  the  hearts  of  men,  in  every  age; 
all  these  things  conspire  to  prove  the  truth 
of  the  positive  claims  of  the  writers.  Your 
advantages  from  education  render  a  deeoer 


33 


investigation  necessary  to  your  conviction, 
than  that  which  has  satisfied  these  island¬ 
ers.  There  is  a  species  of  proof,  when  the 
disposition  is  in  unison  with  the  spiritual 
things  of  these  books,  which  is  of  a  vastly 
higher  nature ;  but  it  is  rather  for  confirm¬ 
ation,  and  consolation,  than  to  procure  that 
assent,  which  is  the  precursor  of  penitential 
sorrow. 

Captain.  If  the  writings  were  unknown, 
till  Ililkiah  is  said  to  have  found  them,  in 
the  days  of  Josiab,  more  than  eight  hun¬ 
dred  years  after  the  death  of  Moses,  it  is 
probable  they  were  written  at  that  period ; 
for  it  is  incredible,  that  the  book  of  the 
laws  of  a  nation,  should  have  been  thus  un¬ 
known  to  them,  had  they  previously  ex¬ 
isted. 

Missionary .  Josiah  had  been  then  seven¬ 
teen  years  occupied  in  restoring  the  wor¬ 
ship  of  the  law;  Hilkiah  therefore  probably 
found  the  autograph  of  the  covenant  ratified 
in  the  plains  of  Moab ;  which  was  to  be 
laid  up  beside  the  ark.  Moses  had  read 


34 


his  law  to  the  people;  Joshua  read  also 
every  word,  and  made  a  covenant,  and 
wrote  it  “  in  the  book  of  the  law  of  God.” 
David  often  mentions  the  law;  and  his 
father  was  the  great  grandson  of  Salmon, 
the  cotemporary  of  Moses.  Jehoshaphat, 
three  hundred  years  before  Josiah,  sent 
teachers  into  the  cities  of  Judah;  “and 
they  taught  in  Judah,  and  had  the  book  of 
the  law  of  the  Lord  with  them.”  Also 
the  writings  of  Moses  created  the  chief  ob¬ 
stacle,  with  which  Jeroboam  the  son  of 
Nebat,  and  the  subsequent  rulers  of  the 
ten  tribes,  had  to  conflict.  Elijah  appeared 
about  sixty-five  years  after  the  revolt  of 
Jeroboam,  and  was  succeeded  by  Elisha; 
these  prophesied  about  seventy-one  years, 
in  the  ten  tribes.  Jonah  began  to  prophesy 
twenty-seven  years  after  Elisha’s  death ; 
and  in  his  life  time,  Amos  and  Hosea  pro¬ 
phesied.  Isaiah  began  eleven  years  after 
Jonah  went  to  Nineveh,  and  prophesied 
with  Micah,  his  cotemporary,  in  Judah; 
as  Joel  had  done  in  the  days  of  Jonah. 


35 

About  the  time  of  Isaiah’s  death,  Nahum 
began  to  prophesy.  All  these  lived  be¬ 
tween  the  days  of  Solomon  and  of  Josiah; 
jf  you  will  consult  these,  almost  uninter¬ 
rupted  prophecies,  which  every  where 
suppose  the  existence  of  the  Mosaic  code, 
you  must  perceive,  that  little  weight  can 
be  allowed  to  the  trite  objection,  that  the 
writings  of  Moses  were  unknown  before 
the  reign  of  Josiah. 

Captain .  I  had  this  objection  from  a 
Jew:  who  mentioned  also  others.  He  said, 
f hat  the  pentateuch  was  written  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Jordan,  and  consequently 
not  by  Moses,  who  never  was  there;  and 
that  the  translators  into  English,  differing 
from  others,  and  the  Hebrew,  have  render¬ 
ed  over  by  “  this  side  Jordan.”  He  ob¬ 
served  also,  that  the  word  prophet  did  not 
come  into  use  before  the  time  of  David, 
(1  Sam.  ix.  9)  and  consequently,  that  as  it 
is  used  in  the  five  books  ascribed  to  Moses, 
they  must  have  been  written  afterwards! 

I  can  never  believe  that  Samson  caught 


three  hundred  toxes;  or  that  he  would  use 
them  to  burn  the  fields;  or  that  two  of  Ja¬ 
cob’s  sons  took  a  city,  or  even  a  castle,  by 
digging  down  a  wall. 

Missionary.  Your  infidel  Israelite  will 
have  to  admit  that  the  books  of  Joshua,  and 
1st  Chronicles,  were  written  on  the  east 
side  of  Jordan,  for  the  same  Hebrew  word 
is  used,  Joshua  xxii.  7,  and  1  Chron.  xxvi. 
30.  The  passage  in  1st  Samuel  was  in¬ 
tended  only  to  show  that  seer,  there  first 
used  in  the  Bible,  was  an  old  word.  Your 
own  two  objections  arise  from  the  mis¬ 
takes  of  those,  who  have  added  the  He¬ 
brew  points;  instead  of  foxes  we  are  to 
read  sheaves ,  and  instead  of  digged  down 
a  wall ,  the  words  are  extirpated  a  prince, 
or  head  of  a  family,  in  the  affair  of  Dinah. 
I  need  not  suggest  the  impropriety  of  suf¬ 
fering  verbal  mistakes  in  a  translation,  to 
influence  so  important  an  inquiry.  There 
are  numerous  places,  where  our  translation 
could  be  brought  nearer  to  the  original, 
and  relieve  the  sense ;  hut  it  is  better  that 


37 


it  should  remain  as  it  is;  and  that  those, 
who  wish  information,  should  consult  the 
Hebrew  of  the  Old,  and  the  Greek  of  the 
New  Testament;  or  those,  in  whom  they 
can  confide,  to  do  it  for  them. 

Captain.  I  place  little  reliance  upon 
merely  verbal  defects,  because  if  those 
writings  are  supposititious,  those  who  wrote 
them  were  able  to  avoid  such  flaws,  which 
may  have  obtained  through  the  ignorance 
o7  translators.  But  there  are  whole  por¬ 
tions,  especially  in  the  Old  Testament, 
which  are  unworthy  of  a  revelation;  such 
are  the  jealousies,  and  broils  in  the  families 
of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob;  and  the  in¬ 
cest  of  the  daughters  of  Lot.  They  may 
not  offend  the  savage  islanders;  but  they 
must  wound  the  sensibility  of  a  refined 
city  audience. 

Missionary.  I  am  not  a  little  surprised, 
Captain,  that  the  important  design  of  those 
passages  should  have  escaped  your  penetra¬ 
tion.  The  promise,  made  to  the  woman, 
in  Eden,  of  a  descendant,  who  should  de- 

D 


38 


liver  the  race,  influenced  the  names  of  her 
sons;  as  it  did  that  of  Noah.  It  excited 
the  faith  of  the  pious  in  every  generation; 
and  the  false  hopes,  and  jealousies  of  the 
wicked.  The  same  promise  was  renewed 
to  Noah,  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob  and  David ; 
and  thereby  restricted.  Lot,  by  following 
Abraham,  and  his  daughters,  by  their  in¬ 
cest,  who  considered  their  virtue  unim¬ 
peached,  claimed  the  blessing  by  primo¬ 
geniture.  Sarah’s  impatience  produced, 
and  her  wish  to  remove  a  rival,  after  she 
had  obtained  Isaac,  excluded  Ishmael. 
The  wives  of  Jacob  were  competitors  for, 
and  their  sons  invidious  on  the  account  of 
that  blessing,  which  their  father  had  unjust¬ 
ly  snatched  fr®m  his  brother;  the  quarrels 
were  silenced  by  placing  it  in  Judah’s  re¬ 
mote  posterity.  The  records  of  those  facts, 
whereby  the  wicked  from  selfish  motives 
aimed  to  secure  advantages,  which  they 
viewed  as  temporal,  were  not  only  so  many 
testimonies  of  the  existence  of  the  promise 
of  the  Messiah,  but  exhibited,  even  in  the 


39 


abuses  of  it,  the  object  of  the  faith,  and 
hope  and  worship  of  those,  who  professed 
in  ancient  times  the  true  religion,  and 
trusted  in  the  promises.  The  recording 
such  wickedness,  was  justified  by  the  veri¬ 
ty  of  history  ;  was  important  to  the  pre¬ 
servation  of  the  knowledge  of  the  promises 
of  the  Messiah  ;  to  show  the  exclusion  of 
the  Ishmaelites,  Edomites,  Moabites  and 
Ammonites  from  the  hope  of  receiving  the 
promised  seed;  to  confirm  our  faith,  that 
Jesus  was  that  promised  deliverer;  and  to 
explain  the  subsequent  prophecies,  and 
elucidate  the  history  of  his  treatment,  cha¬ 
racter,  conduct  and  doctrines. 

Captain.  Histories  of  uncultivated  man¬ 
ners,  like  a  visit  to  Hawaii,  furnish  no  in¬ 
tellectual  improvement;  the  reading  this 
Jewish  book,  rather  confirms  my  opposi¬ 
tion  to  their  religion. 

Missionary.  Their  defects  in  civiliza¬ 
tion  and  science  are  conspicuous ;  but  their 
religion,  in  morality  and  sound  reason,  is 
unrivalled;  a  paradox  worthy  your  atten- 


40 


tion.  Our  ignorance  of  oriental  geography, 
history,  customs,  opinions,  manners  and 
idioms,  has  rendered  those  volumes,  not 
only  repulsive  to  prejudiced  minds,  but 
perplexing  to  those  who  have  studied  them 
with  care.  Yet  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  as¬ 
sure  you,  that  a  vast  accumulation  of  light 
has  been  of  late  thrown  upon  their  obscu¬ 
rities;  and  every  year  renders  one  passage, 
and  another,  delightfully  clear  and  satis¬ 
fying. 

Mate.  The  Captain’s  objections  were 
new  to  me,  and  I  am  happy  to  have  heard 
the  answers,  for  I  wish  to  be  a  Christian, 
if  I  am  not  one;  but  still,  Mr.  Andrews, 
I  suspect,  that  imagination  and  deception 
have  produced  much  of  that,  which  bears 
the  name  of  Christianity. 

Missionary.  Unquestionably  there  are 
counterfeits,  but  such  imply  a  good  coin. 
Because  you  may  have  no  pleasure,  Mr. 
Chubb,  in  philological  inquiries,  it  neither 
follows,  that  no  others  have,  nor  that  they 
may  not  teem  with  importance.  If  the 


41 


\ 


apostles,  and  missionaries  be  deceivers ,  their 
design  to  promote  holiness  is  contrary  to 
their  own  wishes;  also,  they  expose  them-  < 
selves  to  great  privations,  and  sufferings, 
lor  no  conceivable  advantage  to  themselves! 
How  they  can  trust  each  other,  or  hope  to 
escape  detection,  is  very  strange.  If  they 
be  the  victims  of  deception ,  this  argues 
their  ignorance;  yet  their  plans  have  proved 
surprisingly  successful;  neither  the  doc¬ 
trines,  nor  the  prudence  of  the  apostles,  or 
of  (he  missionaries,  argue  the  weakness  of 
fanaticism. 

Captain.  I  most  earnestly  desire  to 
know  the  truth;  but  there  are  some  things 
m  the  gospels,  that  seem  to  me  repugnant; 
for  example,  that  the  same  person  Should 
be  distinctly  God  and  man. 

Missionary.  You  could  not  conduct  this 
ship  to  port,  if  you  were  defective  either  of 
soul,  01  body;  these  make  one  person,  yet 
are  they  so  diverse,  that  they  have  not  a 
single  property  in  common.  Jesus  Christ 
is  the  very  same  person,  “who  dwelt 

D  2 


42 


among  us,”  and  was  a  perfect  man  pos¬ 
sessed  of  a  body  and  a  soul:  yet  he  was  the 
“Word,”  who  was  “in  the  beginning”  of 
time,  and  consequently  eternal,  which  no 
man  is;  and  was  “in  the  beginning  with 
God,”  which  implies  a  distinction  of  some 
kind,  call  it  personal,  or  what  you  please; 
and  he  “  was  God,”  not  exclusively,  for  he 
was  “  with  God,”  but  partook  of  the  di¬ 
vine  nature,  for  then  there  was  no  other,  it 
being  before  “  all  things  were  made  by 
him.”  Thus  the  divine  Word  assumed  also 
the  human  nature,  and  was  made  flesh  ;  and 
consequently,  this  same  person  had  the  di¬ 
vine  and  human  natures. 

Captain.  If  Jesus  was  the  way  to  God, 
as  he  said,  how  could  he  be  also  God  ?  The 
'  way  is  not  the  end. 

Missionary .  Infinite  majesty  might,  with¬ 
out  any  subordination,  assume  the  part  of 
mediator,  and  become  the  way.  The  king 
of  England  does  not  abdicate  the  throne  of 
that  empire,  by  being  elector  of  Hanover. 
If  any  of  the  continental  powers  should 


43 


make  an  application  to  the  king  of  Eng¬ 
land,  through  the  elector  of  Hanover  ;  there 
could  be  no  rational  objection;  especially  if 
he  could  be  approached  in  no  other  way. 

The  divine  “Word”  never  left  the  throne 
of  heaven,  when  accomplishing  the  work  of 
a  Redeemer  as  a  man.  “No  one  has  as¬ 
cended  into  heaven,  but  he  who  came  down 
from  heaven,  even  the  Son  of  man  who  is 
in  heaven.”  These  are  his  words,  who  de¬ 
nominated  himself  the  way. 

Captain.  But  if  the  way  was  God  him¬ 
self,  then  he  made  an  atonement  to  him¬ 
self? 

Missionary.  The  atonement,  or  sacri¬ 
fice  was  made  to  God,  Three  in  One;  and 
consequently  not  to  the  exclusion  of  the 
second  person.  Accordingly,  in  the  dark¬ 
est  time  of  the  sufferings  of  the  human  na¬ 
ture  of  Christ,  an  angel,  not  the  divinity  in 
him,  supported  him;  and  his  human  will, 
which  recoiled  from  the  unknown  suffer-  * 
ings,  submitted  to  the  divine  will,  that  is 
to  duty. 


44 


Captain.  Mr.  Andrews,  the  object  of 
your  worship  is  one  undivided  being,  that 
is  deity,  whom  you  call  God  *,  yet  you  have 
said  that  the“  Word,”  by  whom  you  mean 
the  person  of  Jesus,  was  and  is  God  ;  how 
can  one  undivided  being  be  at  the  same 
time  three  ? 

Missionary .  As  one,  God  is  not  three; 
as  three,  the  persons  are  not  one.  The  hu¬ 
man  soul  and  body  constitute  one  person, 
but  they  are  several  things.  The  divine 
persons  (in  a  peculiar  sense  of  the  word 
person)  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the 
Holy  Spirit,  are  one  essence  or  being,  but 
they  are  several  persons.  Each  is  God,  but 
not  each  a,  or  the  God,  for  there  is  but  one 
God.  But  the  word  God  is  used  for  the 
personal  distinction  Father,  in  the  expres¬ 
sion,  Son  of  God. 

Captain.  The  Jews  still  affirm,  that  the 
life  of  Jesus  had  been  forfeited,  and  that  his 
death  was  justified  by  their  laws;  but  as 
capital  punishment  could  only  be  inflicted 
for  offences  against  the  penal  statutes  of  the 


Homans,  there  remained  no  other  expedi¬ 
ent  for  effectuating  their  law,  but  by  a  con¬ 
viction  before  the  governor.  And  if  Jesus 
was  not  guilty,  as  his  disciples  affirm,  and 
was  also  able  to  deliver  himself,  he  was  his 
own  murderer. 

Missionary.  Your  good  sense  must  per¬ 
ceive,  that  the  charge  for  which  the  coun¬ 
cil  condemned  him,  was  founded  on  a  beg¬ 
ging  of  the  question,  that  he  was  not  the 
Son  of  God  :  for  if  he  was,  then  was  he  in¬ 
nocent.  Also  their  accusation  of  treason 
before  Pilate,  for  doing  the  very  thing  they 
wished,  and  expected  of  their  Messiah,  was 
not  only  false,  but  barefaced  disingenuous¬ 
ness.  Yet  they  accomplished,  what  was  be¬ 
fore  appointed  to  be  done  ;  and  by  no  other 
death  would  his  hands  and  his  feet  have 
been  pierced,  his  garments  divided,  gall 
and  vinegar  administered,  and  other  cir¬ 
cumstances  fulfilled  according  to  prophe¬ 
cies.  He  prolonged  his  life,  till  his  work 
was  finished;  and  as  he  came  to  offer  him¬ 
self  a  sacrifice,  it  was  his  assumed  duty,  to 


46 


submit  to  death  at  its  time,  as  the  work 
which  was  stipulated  in  the  council  of 
peace.  He  had  also,  as  the  Lord  of  life,  a 
right  to  lay  it  down,  and  power  to  resume 
it :  his  power  of  self-deliverance,  though 
he  was  innocent,  was  therefore  no  imputa¬ 
tion. 

Mate.  After  all,  Mr.  Andrews,  I  cannot 
perceive,  why  a  merciful  Deity  should  re¬ 
quire  the  death  of  so  excellent  a  person; 
and  that  for  the  wicked.  If  a  gentleman 
wrongs  me,  I  can  forgive  him,  if  I  choose; 
and  God  has  more  mercy  than  I  have. 

Missionary.  The  natures  were  distinct, 
the  person  one.  A  divine  person  died,  not 
the  divine  nature.  A  continuance  in  this 
world  could  be  nothing  to  him,  who  cre¬ 
ated  it  by  a  word,  and  can  destroy  it  by  a 
frown.  The  divine  nature,  being  ubiquita- 
ry,  was  worshipped  in  heaven,  whilst  the 
human  was  dying  on  the  cross.  Justice  had 
stipulated  the  substitution,  which  mercy 
tendered  :  for  mercy  could  not  be  exercised 
to  the  disparagement  of  laws,  justice,  pub- 


47 


lie  good,  and  the  character  of  the  Rectoral 
Governor. 

Captain.  That  one  man  should,  willing¬ 
ly  or  unwillingly,  bear  the  penalty  for  ano¬ 
ther’s  offence,  is  so  far  from  satisfying  jus¬ 
tice,  that  it  is  manifest  unrighteousness; 
merit  and  guilt  being  in  their  nature  per¬ 
sonal,  and  never  transferrable. 

Missionary.  The  instances  of  men’s  suf¬ 
fering  by  each  other’s  faults  are  number¬ 
less.  We  may  be  captured  as  a  lawful  prize, 
m  retaliation  for  national,  or  individual 
evils,  before  we  reach  our  port.  On  the 
other  hand,  you  were  struck  with  the  kind 
offices  oi  these  islanders,  flowing  from 
Christian  kindness.  Thus,  although  Christ 
was  not  guilty,  his  sufferings  may  have  been 
on  account  of  our  offences;  and  notwith¬ 
standing  his  righteousness  was  not  our  per¬ 
sonal  rectitude,  we  may  obtain  happiness 
as  the  consequence  of  what  he  has  de¬ 
served.  The  truth,  that  we  have  person¬ 
ally  offended,  is  immovable;  if  justice  can¬ 
not  accept  a  substitute,  either  it  must  fail, 


48 


or  we  must  perish.  But  glad  tidings  an¬ 
nounce,  that  according  to  eternal  purposes, 
upon  which  the  law  was  predicated,  a  sub¬ 
stitute  of  competent  dignity  has  come,  and 
has  paid  the  ransom,  and  salvation  is  offered 
to  all  mankind. 

Mate.  These  islanders,  when  I  first  saw 
them,  might  kill  their  own  children,  and 
the  king  would  take  no  notice  of  it;  they 
would,  therefore,  never  have  made  the 
Captain’s  objection.  As  they  had  no  laws 
for  the  administration  of  justice,  the  mis¬ 
sionaries  must  have  succeeded  by  direct 
appeals  to  the  consciences  of  the  people. 
But  still  the  universality  of  their  reforma¬ 
tion,  and  consequently  of  the  conviction 
that  produced  it,  is  passing  strange. 

Missionary.  Not  more  strange,  Mr. 
Chubb,  than  the  conversion  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost. 

Captain.  If  the  righteousness  of  Christ 
be  the  only  cause  of  a  believer’s  salvation, 
neither  his  righteousness  procures,  nor  his 
sins  prevent  it;  why  then  should  mine?  If 


49 


both  are  out  of  the  question,  and  I  am  as 
good  as  he,  why  should  his  believing  bring 
him  to  heaven,  and  I  be  shut  out? 

Missionary.  The  righteousness,  which 
you  have  denied  to  be  transferrable,  and 
which  is  the  substituted  ground  of  a  believ¬ 
er’s  being  treated  as  if  he  were  righteous, 
is  by  no  means  the  moral  rectitude  inherent 
to  the  party:  yet  are  they  ever  concomi¬ 
tant;  whom  he  justifies  he  sanctifies.  If 
you  had  the  disposition  of  a  believer,  you 
would  be  one.  Whilst  he  submits,  you  re¬ 
sist;  his  virtue  is  that  of  a  subject,  yours  of 
a  rebel;  whilst  he  falls  into  the  train  of 
Christ,  you  are  standing  in  the  ranks  of  the 
enemy.  Since  you  have  put  your  own  case 
in  issue,  I  appeal  to  your  conscience,  whe¬ 
ther,  at  the  final  judgment,  it  will  not  be 
just,  to  accept  the  penitent  rebel,  and  to 
reject  the  unrelenting  enemy. 

Captain.  Mr.  Andrews,  you  assume  that 
I  can  believe,  but  I  cannot;  and  you  admit 
that  the  necessary  change  of  heart  is  the 

E 


50 


work  of  the  Spirit;  so  I  must  be  lost,  for 
not  doing,  what  I  cannot  accomplish. 

Missionary .  You  have,  and  can  read  the 
Scriptures;  you  have  reason,  and  can  test 
them  ;  you  have  conscience,  and  the  works 
of  God  before  you ;  if  the  evidence  be  de¬ 
fective,  you  are  clear:  your  want  of  power 
is  a  mere  defect  of  inclination;  you  can 
therefore  believe,  if  you  will.  The  good 
sense  of  every  man  may  distinguish  be¬ 
tween  a  physical,  usually  denominated  a 
natural  inability,  which  he  cannot  help; 
and  a  mere  want  of  heart,  or  disposition, 
which  is  moral.  It  is  indeed  figuratively 
described  as  an  inability;  the  party  never¬ 
theless  has  the  powers,  but  will  not  exer¬ 
cise  them.  No  judge  will  allow  the  latter 
as  an  excuse,  and  no  prisoner  can  be  con¬ 
victed,  who  can  substantiate  the  former  de¬ 
fence. 

Captain.  Your  answer,  Mr.  Andrews, 
does  cast  the  blame  of  every  man’s  unbelief 
on  himself,  and  makes  him  a  self-destroyer, 
which  does  seem  to  accord  with  our  feel- 


51 


ings,  because  we  are  sensible  of  no  defect 
of  power;  but  still  the  believer  would  not 
be  such  without  the  Spirit’s  influence  to 
change  his  heart,  and  if  I  had  that,  I  should 
upon  your  own  principles  also  believe; 
where  is  the  justice,  therefore,  of  such  une¬ 
qual  distributions  of  favours,  to  men  equal¬ 
ly  rebels,  and  equally  under  the  condemna¬ 
tion  of  a  broken  law? 

Missionary.  Pardon  me,  Captain,  for 
saying  your  ideas  are  on  this  subject  a  little 
confused.  I  carefully  distinguished,  but  the 
discrimination  I  perceive  has  escaped  you, 
between  sovereignty ,  and  rectoral  govern¬ 
ment ,  and  referred  grace  only  to  the  form¬ 
er,  and  inviolable  justice  to  the  latter.  The 
Sovereign  of  the  universe  does  his  plea¬ 
sure,  he  is  not  bound  to  make  men  angels, 
nor  sinners  saints;  men  and  sinners  have 
no  claims  on  him  for  such  gifts;  in  grace 
and  in  providence  his  gifts  are  unequal,  and 
he  has  mercy  upon  whom  he  will.  But  in 
the  moral  government,  which  he  has  erect¬ 
ed,  he  deals  with  his  rational  creatures, 


52 


according  to  what  they  have;  and  his  jus¬ 
tice  must  never  be  tarnished,  by  waving  its 
demands  of  obedience,  because  men  have 
no  heart,  or  disposition  to  do  their  duty. 
This  is  their  crime;  human  depravity  is 
mere  moral  impotence.  Grace,  that  is,  spi¬ 
ritual  influence,  is  imperceptible,  both  in 
the  moral  and  physical  worlds;  it  therefore 
neither  diminishes  freedom,  nor  increases 
obligation.  Were  it  otherwise,  this  single 
circumstance  would  subvert  all  govern¬ 
ment,  human  and  divine;  the  most  depraved 
would  be  the  most  innocent;  and  the 
strongest  propensity  to  evil,  would  become 
the  best  defence  against  accusation.  If  your 
nature,  Captain,  and  my  own  are  similar, 
you  must  be  conscious,  that  you  possess 
natural  powers,  moral  means,  and  freedom, 
and  cannot  deny  that  your  responsibility  is 
commensurate  with  these;  I  ask,  do  you 
know  of  any  thing  else,  except  the  neglect 
or  abuse  of  these,  that  is  necessary  to  justify 
your  condemnation? 

Captain.  Really,  Mr.  Andrews,  your 


53 


reasoning  comes  very  close;  nevertheless, 
I  thank  you  for  your  candour;  and  wish  a 
little  time  to  reflect,  upon  the  several  items 
of  this  conversation;  which,  from  its  fair¬ 
ness  and  liberality,  has  awakened  in  me  an 
interest,  far  beyond  my  anticipations.  Al¬ 
though  not  as  yet  persuaded,  nor  at  all  the 
Christian,  I  am  satisfied,  that  I  have  too 
hastily  formed  my  conclusions  against 
Christianity.  We  have  only  discussed  pre¬ 
paratory  inquiries;  I  suppose  the  doctrines, 
experience  and  duties  of  the  Christian  reli¬ 
gion,  must  be  respectively  of  considerable 
extent;  but  with  these,  I  have  no  concern, 
unless  I  should  be  of  opinion  with  you,  on 
the  points  we  have  disputed.  Whatever  the 
result  may  be,  you  shall  know,  before  the 
voyage  has  terminated. 

Missionary.  I  hope,  Captain,  no  other 
freedom  has  been  assumed  on  my  part,  than 
that  which  is  incidental  to  the  unrestrained 
effusions  of  colloquial  argumentation.  As 
it  is  the  duty  of  every  man  to  inquire,  and 
decide  for  himself,  it  is  equally  so,  to  Buf¬ 
fi  2 


54 


fer  all  others  to  exercise  the  same  liberty. 
The  essentials  of  Christianity  are  known, 
and  believed  by  all  the  denominations;  yet 
Providence  has  suffered  even  these  to  be 
divided  about  shibboleths  ;  that  they  might 
be  excited  to  investigate,  and  disposed  to 
retain  the  truth;  remembering  at  the  same 
time,  that  mutual  love  is  to  remain  their 
distinguishing  characteristic.  That  con¬ 
science  admits  not  of  compulsion,  is  the 
voice  of  revelation,  and  a  dictate  of  reason  ; 
persecution  producing  only  martyrs,  or  hy¬ 
pocrites.  Howsoever  anxious  to  communi¬ 
cate  the  hope,  which  I  do  myself  enjoy,  I 
shall  not  be  obtrusive;  nevertheless  shall 
esteem  it  a  favour,  as  it  will  certainly  be 
my  pleasure,  to  communicate,  as  often  as 
sought,  any  part  of  the  little,  which  I  know. 
Truth  should  be  not  merely  the  professed, 
but  the  real  object  of  each  of  us  :  as  it  can¬ 
not  be  my  duty,  so  shall  it  never  be  my 
aim,  to  act  falsely  for  God;  I  am  as  ready 
to  hear,  as  to  answer;  and  if  I  can  discover 
what  is  right,  I  will  accept,  and  follow  it. 


55 


from  whomsoever  it  shall  come.  And  may 
God  Almighty  introduce  you  both,  into  the 
light,  liberty,  privileges  and  blessings  of 
the  gospel  of  peace. 


THE  SECOND  DIALOGUE. 


The  Captain,  The  Physician, 

The  Mate,  The  Rev.Jedediah  Andrews. 


Captain.  The  topics  of  our  conversa¬ 
tion  in  the  Pacific  have  unceasingly  recur¬ 
red  to  my  mind,  and  occupied  much  of  my 
waking  silence.  Victory,  not  less  than 
truth,  a  motive  more  frequent  than  con¬ 
fessed,  induced  at  that  time  an  advance  of 
objections  beyond  the  limits  of  propriety; 
but,  nevertheless,  thereby  answers  were 
elicited,  clothed  with  arguments,  of  the 
existence  of  which  I  had  entertained  no 
conception.  The  negligence,  and  superci¬ 
liousness  whereof  I  stand  convicted,  have, 
no  doubt,  in  a  multitude  of  instances 
proved  an  effectual  barrier  against  that 
knowledge,  the  want  of  which  must  neces¬ 
sarily  shut  up  the  understanding  in  its  na- 


58 


live  atheism.  This  interview  has  been 
sought,  Mr.  Andrews,  not  for  the  sake  of 
opposition,  but  information;  and  that  means 
should  not  fail,  from  my  change  of  atti¬ 
tude,  the  doctor  and  the  mate  are  in  at¬ 
tendance.  Between  the  former  and  myself 
a  tacit  understanding  never  to  conflict,  has 
been  inviolably  observed.  The  mate  re¬ 
tains,  I  presume,  his  former  sentiments. 
What  communications  shall  be  best  adapt¬ 
ed  to  my  defects,  I  submit  to  your  deci¬ 
sion,  when  I  shall  have  expressed  some  of 
my  views,  which  are  greatly  diverse  from 
those,  which  I  supported  on  the  former  oc¬ 
casion.  I  am  now  not  more  conscious  of 
my  existence,  and  that  the  exercise  of  my 
mental  powers  is  peculiar  to  myself,  than 
convinced  that  the  discrimination  of  moral 
good  and  evil,  and  the  sting  of  remorse  are 
not  only  no  properties  of  my  body,  but  are 
for  higher  ends;  when  the  separate,  living, 
conscious  soul  shall  realize  the  events  of 
its  trial,  whilst  it  was  shut  up  in  the  perish¬ 
ing  body.  I  feel  myself  the  subject  of  mo- 


59 


ral  government,  not  merely  under  law, 
but  guilty  in  ten  thousand  instances;  and 
am  now  ashamed  to  have  believed,  that 
the  Being,  whose  infinite  nature  equally 
extends  to  the  smallest,  as  well  as  the 
greatest  concerns,  would  not  so  notice  the 
affairs  of  men,  as  to  reveal  to  them  positive 
laws,  and  require  instituted  worship.  A 
comparison  of  the  evidence  of  the  genuine¬ 
ness  of  the  Scriptures,  with  that  of  other 
hooks,  compels  my  acknowledgment  of  the 
claims  of  Moses  and  Joshua,  to  stand  upon 
the  same  footing,  with  those  of  Homer  and 
Virgil :  and  when  1  see  their  authenticity 
supported  by  a  mass  of  historic  and  other 
facts,  daily  accumulating,  and  already  ex¬ 
ceeding  those,  which  are  competent  vouch¬ 
ers  for  other  ancient  writings,  candour  re¬ 
quires  my  admission  of  the  presumption  of 
their  entire  truth.  W  hen  their  genuineness 
and  authenticity  are  admitted,  they  estab¬ 
lish  their  own  inspiration.  Nevertheless, 
notwithstanding  these  general  concessions, 
they  exhibit  many  things  wholly  incompre- 


60 


hensible  by  me ;  these  I  cannot  say  I  be¬ 
lieve;  here  therefore  my  mind  still  labours. 

Missionary .  The  word  of  God,  whose 
ways  are  inscrutable,  must  be  expected  to 
bear  the  impress  of  divinity,  and  to  be  in¬ 
commensurate  with  our  understandings; 
the  feebleness  of  which  darkens  every  sub¬ 
ject  that  we  attempt  to  investigate  beyond 
our  line.  But  when  the  obstacle  is  insupe¬ 
rable,  justice  vindicates  our  ignorance  from 
imputation.  How  shall  we  refuse  to  be¬ 
lieve,  what  God  has  spoken?  What  you 
have  denied  in  the  general,  I  hope  may  be 
retracted  upon  a  specification. 

Captain.  Certainly  all  those  things, 
which  imply  no  contradiction,  must  be  pos¬ 
sible  to  infinite  wisdom  and  power.  Thus 
if  the  incarnation  had  implied  a  repug¬ 
nancy,  such  pagans  as  the  wary  Julian, 
would  not  have  admitted  the  existence  of 
demigods.  The  power  that  can  join  a  ra¬ 
tional  soul  to  a  material  body,  must  be 
able  to  unite,  without  amalgamating  two 
spirits  of  similar  natures. 


61 


Physician.  It  is  evidently  reasonable, 
that  virtue  so  illustrious,  and  righteousness 
so  perfect,  should  have  extensive  and  bene¬ 
ficial  influence.  But  Christ  performed  the 
condition  of  a  covenant,  or  which  amounts 
to  the  same  thing,  complied  with  the 
eternal  purpose  of  making  good  man’s  de¬ 
ficiency,  which  must  be  in  the  offending 
nature ,  and  yet  of  dignity  commensurate 
with  that  of  the  law.  We  cannot  tell  what 
relation  the  world  bears  to  the  universe; 
but  we  see  the  smallest  creatures  have  had 
the  attention,  and  shared  in  the  benefits  of 
the  infinite  Creator. 

Missionary .  The  acts  of  our  bodies  re¬ 
ceive  their  moral  character  from  our  souls, 
being  the  same  persons;  so  the  value  of  the 
human  obedience  and  sufferings  of  Christ 
arise  from  their  being  those  of  a  divine 
person.  His  knowledge  as  God  was  not 
an  effect;  his  divine  will  was  immutable; 
and  ubiquity  belonged  to  his  presence; 
these  might  therefore  well  remain  the 
same,  without  being  affected  by  his  human 

F 


6  2 


knowledge,  will  and  presence.  That  he 
was  still  in  heaven,  he  as  plainly  affirmed, 
as  his  human  inferiority. 

Mate.  The  Captain  appears  to  have  al¬ 
tered  his  mind.  When  our  former  conver¬ 
sation  ended,  I  was  much  less  opposed  than 
he,  to  consider  the  people  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  really  reformed  and  instructed; 
and  although  I  have  not  received  revela¬ 
tion,  yet  I  am  not  at  all  averse  so  to  do,  if 
1  can  only  see  cause.  Also  I  confess,  I  am 
no  better  than  I  should  be,  and  may  here¬ 
after  need  a  Saviour  for  aught  I  know;  and 
have  therefore  no  objection,  since  he  is 
said  to  have  died  for  all,  to  obtain  a  share 
in  the  possible  good. 

Missionary .  It  often  happens,  that  they 
who  are  afar  off,  are  made  nigh;  whilst 
those,  who  are  almost  persuaded,  never 
submit.  The  sacrifice  of  the  cross  is 
enough  for  all,  and  offered  to  all,  who 
hear  the  gospel;  and  the  invitation  is  with¬ 
out  exceptions.  Yet  no  man  has  a  right 
to  approach,  in  the  first  instance,  as  a  fa- 


63 


vourite  of  heaven,  but  as  a  guilty  sinner; 
and  every  man  of  this  character  may  ex¬ 
clude  himself  by  obstinate  unbelief,  or  by 
careless  negligence. 

Physician.  Mr.  Chubb,  your  willing¬ 
ness  to  be  saved  seems  to  be  mingled  with 
indifference;  there  are'  means  to  be  used; 
and  yet  even  these  have  not  an  infallible 
connexion  with  grace  and  salvation;  for 
the  best  have  no  natural  qualifications  to 
recommend  them;  certainly  the  offer  alone 
will  not  save  you. 

Missionary.  The  law  may  discover  his 
character  and  state  to  an  unrenewed  man; 
and  show  the  believer  his  duty,  and  the 
necessity  of  holiness:  but  it  cannot  exten¬ 
uate  guilt;  for  then  would  it  effect  an  ex¬ 
emption  from  the  duty  of  repentance. 
The  morality  required  by  the  decalogue, 
is  love  to  God,  and  love  to  man;  these  exist 
not  in  minds  at  enmity  with  God.  The 
morality  of  the  unrenewed,  is  therefore 
really  sin,  wearing  the  semblance  of  reli¬ 
gion.  To  exhort  to  such  a  morality  as  a 


64 


use  of  commanded  means,  in  expectation 
of  spiritual  blessings,  is  to  misrepresent 
our  inability  as  physical,  instead  of  moral; 
and  to  furnish  the  guilty  with  an  excuse 
for  their  defect  of  holiness.  If  there  are 
no  sincere  endeavours  in  unregenerate 
men,  they  can  make  no  terms;  and  the 
Mate,  if  in  earnest,  will  not  he  offended  at 
me  for  saying,  that  he' ought  to  throw  him¬ 
self,  with  deep  prostration  of  soul,  at  the 
foot  of  the  cross,  that  he  may  obtain 
mercy. 

Mate.  Mr.  Andrews,  I  have  visited  al¬ 
most  every  maritime  country,  and  per¬ 
ceived,  that  in  Christendom  the  largest 
portion  know  very  little  about  the  Scrip¬ 
tures,  and  the  whole  are  inconsiderable 
compared  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  who 
have  never  received  them ;  do  you  sup¬ 
pose,  therefore,  that  you  alone  are  so  fa¬ 
voured?  What  is  to  become  of  the  rest  of 
the  world? 

Missionary .  Mr.  Chubb,  you  and  I  are 
Americans,  and  know  that  every  citizen, 


65 


from  New  Brunswick  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexi¬ 
co,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  has  an  interest  in  the  govern¬ 
ment,  a  right  to  protection,  and  is  subject 
to  the  laws  of  the  United  States;  yet  not 
one  in  a  thousand  knows,  or  possesses  those 
laws.  In  like  manner,  although  the  multi¬ 
tudes,  whom  you  have  mentioned,  have 
faint,  or  no  ideas  of  the  divine  laws  and  go¬ 
vernment,  they  are  nevertheless  subjects  of 
that  government  and  under  its  laws.  But 
there  is  a  difference  ;  for  whilst  no  citizen  of 
America  can  defend  himself  by  pleading  his 
ignorance  of  the  laws  of  the  nation,  any 
one  who  is  held  in  invincible  ignorance  of 
divine  laws,  will  be  excused,  to  the  extent 
of  such  involuntary  defect.  Consequently 
you  need  not  fear,  but  that  justice  will  in 
the  end  be  rightly  administered. 

Male.  These  islanders  have  not  had  it  in 
their  power  till  now  to  gain  a  knowledge  of 
the  true  religion,  if  yours  be  such  ;  your  ar¬ 
gument  only  shows,  that  they  are  not  per¬ 
sonally  to  be  condemned  for  the  ignorance 

f  2 


66 


they  could  not  escape;  but  I  had  alleged, 
that  the  paucity  of  Christians,  compared 
with  the  rest  of  mankind,  is  some  evidence 
against  those  writings  being  a  revelation 
from  Deity,  unless  his  favours  are  surpris¬ 
ingly  unequal. 

Physician.  He  may  certainly  do  with  his 
own  as  he  pleases,  and  his  gifts  of  provi¬ 
dence  are  sufficiently  various  to  establish 
this,  and  none  have  a  right  to  complain. 
Suppose  a  son  should  receive  from  his  fa¬ 
ther  his  equal  portion,  and  wander  away, 
marry,  have  a  family,  and  waste  his  sub¬ 
stance  in  superfluities ;  may  he  not  blame 
himself?  If  his  posterity  are  poor,  ignorant 
and  wretched,  and  lose  the  knowledge  of 
the  maternal  family  and  inheritance;  do 
they  not  suffer  through  the  bad  conduct  of 
their  immediate  ancestor?  So  these  island¬ 
ers  must  impute  their  ignorance  to  their  fa¬ 
thers,  who  had  the  knowledge  of  God  and 
of  true  religion,  but  have  wandered  away 
and  wasted  their  stock.  This  representa- 


67 


tion  is  just,  for  the  idea  of  God,  which  the 
islanders  had,  was  certainly  by  tradition. 

Missionary .  The  Sovereign  Proprietor 
may  extend  his  mercies  to  whom  he  pleases, 
not  his  judgments;  in  these  he  acts  the  Rec- 
toral  Governor;  not  arbitrary,  they  are  ever 
righteous;  sin  alone  being  the  formal  cause 
of  destruction.  These  islanders,  until  the 
Gospel  came,  however  guilty,  could  not  re¬ 
fuse  pardon,  and  thus  shut  the  door  of  mer¬ 
cy  on  themselves,  as  we  do  who  reject  the 
tender.  The  decisions  of  men  of  every  na¬ 
tion,  being  on  many  points  alike,  are  refer¬ 
red  to  natural  conscience,  or  the  moral 
sense.  The  judgments  of  the  heathen,  their 
decisions  on  truth  and  error,  are  of  less  ac¬ 
count,  than  their  consciences  which  discri¬ 
minate  between  right  and  wrong.  This 
candle  was  greatly  darkened  at  Hawaii,  but 
we  have  full  proof,  that  it  was  not  extin¬ 
guished  ;  yet  they  had  no  experience  of  that 
remorse,  which  sometimes  haunts  and  tor¬ 
ments  the  contemner  of  the  Gospel ;  a  hand 
writing  upon  the  wall,  which  can  turn  fe3- 


68 


tivity  into  terror  and  desperation.  If  such 
diversity  exists  in  this  life,  the  same  con¬ 
sciences  survive  our  bodies,  and  may  pro¬ 
duce  still  greater  disparity;  so  that  the  in¬ 
equality  of  gifts  may  hereafter  be  found  to 
have  been  less  than  it  now  appears. 

Captain.  Before  truth  is  seen  danger  is 
not  apprehended  ;  negligence  can  prevent 
investigation ;  pride  and  prejudice  exclude 
knowledge.  Man  nevertheless  at  his  plea¬ 
sure  may  review  or  anticipate,  and  can  de¬ 
cide  upon  the  moral  character  of  his  con¬ 
versation  and  thoughts ;  this  I  have  been 
doing,  Mr.  Chubb,  since  our  last  debate 
with  Mr.  Andrews,  with  terrible  effect.  If 
conscience  can  execute  such  vengeance 
here,  there  may  certainly  be  infernal  pu¬ 
nishment.  Whilst  I  keep  my  senses,  I  will 
never  be  again  heard  to  dispute  against  re¬ 
ligion. 

Mate.  Your  advantages,  Captain,  have 
been  greater  than  mine;  it  seems  however 
very  strange,  that  you  should  abandon  a 
cause  you  lately  sustained  so  well,  on  the 


69 


account  of  arguments  that  did  not  affect  me. 
Mr.  Andrews  is  in  no  danger  of  hearing  an 
offensive  word;  but  if  I  say  any  thing,  can¬ 
dour  requires  that  I  should  speak  just  what 
I  think.  Ilis  success  with  you  will  induce 
him  patiently  to  parry  my  weaker  thrusts. 

Missionary.  In  civil  society,  prosecu¬ 
tions  merely  decide  the  question,  guilty  or 
not,  the  degree  for  the  most  part  being  mea¬ 
sured  by  the  penalty  of  the  law.  By  Mr. 
Chubbs’  confession,  that  he  is  “  no  better 
than  he  should  be,”  is  implied,  that  he  does 
not  claim  perfect  innocence;  then  he  is  not 
only  under  law,  but  if  it  be  perfect,  has  in¬ 
curred  its  penalty.  Sin  is  not  always  pu¬ 
nished  here,  he  may  therefore  be  bound 
over  to  a  future  trial ;  and  for  it  his  interest 
requires  that  he  should  be  prepared  with  a 
safe  defence.  It  rarely  happens,  that  men 
who  are  convicted,  admit  that  they  deserve 
the  legal  punishment;  if  the  wages  of  sin 
should  happen  to  be  death,  a  final  separa¬ 
tion  from  all  good,  prudence  seems  to  re¬ 
quire,  that  he  should  know  the  truth  of  his 


70 


case.  Not  only  is  sin  a  blot  that  remains 
forever;  but  he  is,  if  once  the  enemy  of  ho¬ 
liness,  never  inclined  of  himself  to  return. 
Mr.  Chubb  is  consequenlly,  by  his  own  ac¬ 
knowledgment,  shut  up;  and  we  say  that 
without  a  Redeemer,  he  can  find  no  relief; 
for  that  which  justice  requires,  Deity  re¬ 
quires;  neither  sincerity,  nor  sorrow,  can 
stay  the  execution  of  law.  In  the  former 
conversation,  he  claimed  a  Christianity  as 
old  as  creation ,  but  doubted  the  Scrip¬ 
tures;  if  he  could  now  receive  them,  and 
possess  for  them  a  zeal,  it  could  accomplish 
no  more  than  does  a  zeal  for  Moses,  Maho¬ 
met,  the  man  of  sin,  Diana,  or  the  goddess 
Reason. 

Captain.  I  begin  to  see,  that  immorali¬ 
ties  may  be  avoided,  appetites  restrained, 
a  decency  and  propriety  of  deportment  be 
unremittingly  observed,  and  the  secret  bent 
of  the  heart  remain  nevertheless,  directed 
to  the  creatures,  with  even  more  steadi¬ 
ness,  than  the  needle  to  the  pole.  The  will 
follows  the  disposition,  restrained  by  inter- 


71 


est,  character  or  education,  but  not  changed; 
and  the  virtue  which  thus  results,  is  infidel 
hypocrisy  without  a  particle  of  real  recti¬ 
tude.  But  neither  Mr.  Chubb,  nor  myself, 
have  concealed  our  opposition  to  revela¬ 
tion,  whereby  our  semblance  of  virtue,  was 
set  to  the  credit  of  infidelity.  And  though 
I  begin  to  abhor  my  avowed  unbelief,  and 
tremble  to  perceive  the  scope  he  still  al¬ 
lows  to  himself,  yet  I  seem  unable  to  be, 
and  do  as  1  ought.  My  reason  as  well  as 
my  feelings,  accord  with  the  arguments  of 
Mr.  Andrews,  and  upon  reflection  I  con¬ 
fess  that  my  only  inability  is  the  want  of  a 
heart,  which  is  so  far  from  excusing,  that 
it  constitutes  the  essence  of  my  criminality, 
^et  still  am  I  helpless,  and  inexpressibly 
miserable. 

Missionary.  Happy  is  the  man  whose 
state  is  changed  from  condemnation  to  ac¬ 
quittal,  and  his  disposition  from  evil  to  mo¬ 
ral  purity.  The  renovation  of  his  nature 
would  ever  discover  the  change  of  his  state, 
were  not  the  sources  of  deception  so  nume- 


7  2 


rous.  Religion  is  a  right  disposition,  a 
heart  tending  to  the  highest  good,  appear¬ 
ing  also  in  a  conviction  and  hatred  of  sin. 
"Hut  remaining  defects  cloud  the  evidence; 
and  interest  produces  false  reformation,  and 
imaginary  affections;  so  that  repentance, 
faith,  love,  hope,  joy,  and  all  other  charac¬ 
teristics,  have  their  counterfeits.  The  virtue 
of  the  best  citizen,  father,  husband,  and 
friend,  may  be  only  a  comparative  good. 
Thus  Job,  though  a  perfect  man,  just  in  his 
dealings,  charitable,  and  a  terror  to  evil¬ 
doers,  when  he  perceived  his  guilt,  said — 
“  I  have  sinned,  what  shall  I  do  unto 
Thee?”  The  best  of  men,  upon  a  fresh  dis¬ 
covery  of  their  turpitude,  are  pierced  with 
the  arrow  of  conviction,  turn  aside  and 
weep  in  secret,  as  the  wounded  stag  leaves 
the  flock,  and  retiring  to  the  thicket,  bleeds 
alone. 

Physician.  I  have  thought  that  repent¬ 
ance  is  an  early  state  of  the  renewed  mind, 
and  in  order  of  nature,  though  not  of  time, 
precedes  even  faith  ;  if  so,  why  should  t hi 


73 

advanced  believer  feel  again  the  penitential 
pangs  ? 

Missionary .  There  is  connatural  to  fallen 
man  a  propensity  to  choose  evil,  yet  not  as 
such,  but  as  a  mean  of  pleasure.  If  such  a 
mind  should  discern  the  miseries,  which 
are  consequent  upon  sin,  it  will  be  afflicted 
with  remorse,  and  may  adopt  a  change  of 
conduct;  this  is  the  sorrow  of  the  world, 
which  begins,  and  may  end  in  death,  that 
is,  in  a  state  of  opposition  to  God.  But 
when  iniquity  is  hateful  to  a  man  on  its 
own  account,  the  inclinations  of  the  indivi¬ 
dual  have  been  changed.  Such  alteration  of 
views  produces  a  conversion  from  sin  to 
God;  which,  with  respect  to  the  object 
turned  from,  is  called  repentance,  but  with 
regard  to  the  object  unto  which  he  is  turned, 
is^  denominated  faith;  thus  there  is  a  re¬ 
pentance,  in  what  you  call  the  early  state 
of  the  renewed.  But  through  all  our  period 
of  trial,  remaining  corruption  produces  con¬ 
tinual  sources  of  sorrow;  growth  in  moral 
purity  itself  rendering  defects  more  visible. 


G 


74 


Every  Christian  is  also  liable  to  intervals 
of  darkness,  which  lead  some  to  repent  and 
do  their  first  works;  whilst  others,  from 
neglect  of  self-examination,  or  from  consti¬ 
tutional  timidity,  possess  habitual  fears. 
Wisdom  has  mixed  a  portion  of  sorrow  in 
the  cup  of  life,  that  we  might  he  called  to 
reflection,  and  the  acknowledgment  of  the 
rectitude  of  Divine  Providence;  but  whilst 
calamity  may  overwhelm  the  worldling, 
and  drive  him  to  despair,  it  only  weans  the 
•  affection  of  the  believer  from  the  earth,  and 
draws  him  closer  to  God,  as  chastisement 
humbles  the  dutiful  child,  and  causes  him 
to  seek  refuge  in  the  arms  of  his  parent. 

Physician.  Repentance  appears  to  me  a 
rational  duty;  he  that  knows  he  has  done 
wrong  from  an  evil  mind,  should  ingenu¬ 
ously  confess,  and  abandon  the  mischief; 
and  since  as  a  moral  agent,  he  is  able  to 
perceive  and  weigh  the  truth,  every  impe¬ 
nitent  might  awaken  sorrow  for  sin;  re¬ 
pentance,  though  not  directly  a  voluntary 
act,  being  a  state  of  affliction,  necessary  to 


75 


prevent  a  repetition  of  folly.  In  accord¬ 
ance  with  these  views,  pardon  and  salva¬ 
tion  are  often  described  as  blessings  conse¬ 
quent  upon  repentance.  I  thought  myself 
thus  safe;  but  what  you  have  said,  Mr.  An¬ 
drews,  of  continued  or  repeated  repent¬ 
ances,  awakens  my  apprehensions,  after 
having  been  long  contented  with  my  state. 

Missionary.  Repentance  is  a  reasonable 
duty,  and  of  great  advantage  to  the  party, 
when  it  produces  faith,  fear,  carefulness , 
and  zeal;  but  then  it  is  not  a  mere 
freak  of  sorrow  for  sin,  which  may  vanish 
as  the  morning  cloud  and  early  dew,  it  is 
an  abiding  detestation  of  it.  This  only  can 
be  acceptable  to  Him  who  takes  no  plea¬ 
sure  in  the  sorrows  of  his  creatures.  Lapses 
are  incident  to  the  best,  and  if  sin  lies  upon 
the  conscience  unrepented  of,  it  is  a  poison 
received  into  the  system:  wo  to  the  man, 
who  finds  relief  without  sorrow  ;  he  has  no 
right  to  conclude,  that  he  is  not  a  self-de¬ 
ceiver.  Repentance  is  indeed  often  con¬ 
nected  with  the  promise  of  life,  but  it  is  no 


I 


76 


atonement;  otherwise  the  awful  inflexibi¬ 
lity  of  Divine  justice  would  never  have 
been  exhibited  in  the  tragedy  of  the  cross. 
Unbelief  can  neither  prevent  a  future  life 
and  account,  nor  extinguish  the  proof  of 
them;  it  can  prevent  repentance,  but  the 
danger  is  terrible,  and  the  doom  of  impeni- 
tency  tremendous.  Confessions,  contritions, 
and  absolutions,  are  not  repentance,  but  the 
false  consolations  of  death-bed  deceivers, 
whilst  the  stern  executioner,  steady  to  his 
purpose,  is  repeating  blow  after  blow,  till 
he  sends  the  naked  guilty  soul  to  the  bar 
of  incensed,  relentless  justice.  Then  is  hope 
clean  gone  forever :  for  neither  can  their 
hearts  endure,  nor  hands  be  strong,  in  the 
day  that  God  shall  deal  with  them. 

Physician.  It  is  usually  said,  that  the 
rectitude  of  the  believer  is  perfect  in  kind, 
but  not  in  degree;  1  do  as  well  as  I  can,  the 
Lord  knows  our  frame,  and  remembers, 
that  we  are  dust.  But  I  cannot  see  how  a 
man  should  repent  before  he  believes;  truth 
must  be  seen  before  it  can  be  felt. 


77 


Missionary.  If  you  are  doing  as  well  as 
you  can,  justice  has  all  she  can  claim;  but 
mere  attendance  upon  the  means,  is  not  a 
performance  of  the  spiritual  duties  required ; 
and  dependence  upon  general  mercy,  is  a 
relinquishment  of  the  atonement;  the  chief 
inability  is  indwelling  sin  ;  sincerity,  if  it 
were  practicable,  is  no  satisfaction;  but  the 
gospel  does  not  mitigate  the  exactions  of 
the  law,  it  conducts  to  Christ,  who  has  ful¬ 
filled  it:  but  an  indistinct  and  nominal  re¬ 
ference  to  Him  who  bore  our  sins,  in  a  vague 
persuasion  of  mercy  in  Christ,  is  not  a  sav¬ 
ing  faith.  You  are  correct  in  representing 
repentance  as  the  effect  of  truth,  since  faith 
implies  an  assent  to  evidence,  and  this  does 
go  before  repentance;  but  such  a  faith  may 
exist  without  any  religion.  There  is  often 
a  desire  to  be  saved,  a  hearing  the  word 
with  gladness,  a  rejoicing  in  the  light  for  a 
season,  a  professed  subjection  to  the  truth, 
and  an  external  dedication  to  God;  where 
there  is  no  spiritual  life,  no  real  conviction 
of  the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  and  no  such  re- 

G  2 


78 


ceiving  and  resting  upon  Christ,  as  implies 
a  secret  persuasion  of  his  ability  and  wil¬ 
lingness  to  save.  Nothing  hinders  any  man 
who  hears  the  gospel,  from  repenting  of  his 
sins,  and  believing  the  message  of  mercy, 
but  the  latent  enmity  of  his  heart;  there 
is  no  other  bar  to  salvation. 

Physician.  I  am  sorry,  Mr.  Andrews, 
that  there  is  so  much  diversity  among 
preachers;  some  tell  us  we  are  free,  and  can 
repent  and  believe,  if  we  will ;  and  others 
say,  we  can  do  nothing  without  grace.  Ac¬ 
cordingly,  as  I  know  that  I  wish  to  be  a 
Christian,  and  do  every  thing  that  I  may 
accomplish  that  end,  I  feel  as  if  I  was.  Af¬ 
terwards,  upon  hearing  others,  I  seem  as 
if  all  my  labour  was  for  nothing;  your  ar- 
ments  seem  also  to  unchurch  me. 

Missionary.  You  cannot  expect  that  one, 
who  has  given  up  all,  to  live  among  savages 
for  the  cause,  should  “  speak  to  you  smooth 
things,  and  prophesy  deceits.”  That  preach¬ 
ers  should  differ,  and  denominations  also, 
may  be  expected ;  and  yet  on  doctrines 


79 


which  are  vital,  such  as  the  subjects  of  our 
conversation,  they  sufficiently  agree,  and 
the  trifling  discordancies  are  useful  to  ex¬ 
cite  each  other’s  vigilance.  As  a  physician 
you  adapt  your  prescriptions  to  the  various 
symptoms  and  diseases  of  your  patients. 
So  when  men  are  oppressed  with  the  lethar¬ 
gy  of  sin,  and  think  they  can  do  nothing, 
we  tell  them  they  have  evidence,  and  fa¬ 
culties;  that  they  are  free  from  restraint, 
and  can  exercise  them  if  they  will ;  the 
truth  when  seen  produces  repentance,  and 
if  they  will  diligently  and  impartially  exa¬ 
mine  its  proofs,  they  will  believe;  but  if 
they  possessed  not  liberty,  it  would  be  as 
unreasonable  to  require  conversion,  as  to 
demand  work,  when  their  hands  are  tied. 
At  the  same  time,  because  we  know  all 
good  comes  from  God,  and  that  man  is  so 
inclined  to  evil,  that  he  will  not  submit, 
we  encourage  them  to  ask  the  aid  of  Him, 
who  can  work  in  them  to  will  and  to  do, 
and  who  always  does  so,  when  they  ask  as 
they  ought;  and  this  help  is  called  grace, 


30 


because  purely  gratuitous,  and  that  which 
justice  does  not  require. 

Physician.  If  the  Spirit’s  influence  be 
gratuitous,  then  works  will  not  merit  it, 
and  why  should  I  attempt  any  thing? 

Missionary .  Why  should  you  adminis¬ 
ter  medicine  to  the  sick  ?  for  without  God’s 
blessing  it  can  do  no  good.  Why  should 
you  make  any  effort  in  the  concerns  of 
life?  for  every  thing  depends  on  Him. 
And  his  government  is  conducted  by  simi¬ 
lar  laws  in  the  kingdoms  of  providence  and 
of  grace. 

Physician.  There  is  a  difference,  for 
these  blessings  come  when  we  use  the 
means;  but  it  is  not  so  with  the  Spirit’s  in¬ 
fluence,  for  this  grace  comes  when  he  list- 
eth  or  pleaseth,  and  is  acknowledged,  at 
least  by  some  missionaries,  to  be  irresisti¬ 
ble. 

Missionary.  The  blessings  of  Provi¬ 
dence  do  not  come  always  when  we  use 
the  means;  they  are  not  sent  sometimes, 
when  every  nerve  has  been  strained,  Af- 


81 


ter  all  your  skill  and  attention  have  been 
expended,  your  patient  may  die.  Many 
ships  founder  at  sea,  or  are  broken  on  a  lee 
shore,  when  every  man  has  done  his  duty. 
Sovereignty  may  do  with  his  own  as  he 
pleases;  it  is  enough  that  no  one  is  finally 
lost,  but  the  person  who  has  deserved  to  be. 
1  am  not  surprised  that  your  fears  are^so 
easily  alarmed,  and  your  hope  so  uncer¬ 
tain,  since  you  have  cast  up  to  me  the  be¬ 
lief  that  grace  is  irresistible.  Let  the  am¬ 
biguity  of  the  terms  be  removed.  If  by 
grace  you  mean  any  external  favours  which 
God  offers  to  us,  such  as  evidence  of  truth, 
motives  to  obedience,  and  ordinances  of 
worship,  these  may  be,  and  are  resisted, 
daily.  Or  if  you  intend  by  grace  the  Chris¬ 
tian  virtues,  submission,  faith,  hope,  love, 
and  other  duties,  these  may  be  all  resisted, 
and  are,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  by  all, 
even  the  best.  But  if  you  mean  by  grace 
that  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  which 
operates  immediately  upon  the  soul,  in 
changing  and  renewing  the  disposition  or 


82 


heart,  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  any  man 
may  resist  the  access  and  the  work  of  the 
Spirit,  which  is  neither  dependent  upon 
him,  nor  even  presented  either  to  his 
knowledge  or  choice.  A  man  may  misap¬ 
ply  and  abuse  his  understanding,  but  to 
have  an  understanding  is  not  subjected  to 
his  pleasure.  The  renewed  man  may  re¬ 
sist  his  duties,  and  suffer  his  affections  to 
languish,  but  to  be  the  subject  of  spiritual 
regeneration,  is  not  submitted  to  his  elec¬ 
tion.  If  matters  were  otherwise,  then 
would  it  not  be  true,  that  God  imparts  his 
favours  when,  where,  and  to  whom  he 
pleases;  or  that  as  a  sovereign,  he  does 
with  his  own  according  to  his  good  plea¬ 
sure.  Nor  could  we  entertain  a  rational 
hope  of  being  saved;  our  prayers  would  be 
mingled  with  distrust;  nor  could  any  fasten 
his  faith  upon  a  promise  of  salvation  in  the 
Scriptures. 

Physician.  I  was  about  to  ask  what 
Stephen  meant,  when  he  upbraided  his 
murderers  with  having  alivays  resisted  the 


83 


Holy  Ghost;  but  I  perceive  from  your 
distinctions,  that  you  must  understand  him 
to  have  spoken  of  their  abuse  of  the  exter¬ 
nal  advantages  of  prophecies,  and  spiritual 
instruction,  and  of  all  that  are  usually  un¬ 
derstood  by  the  phrase,  “  means  of  grace.” 

Missionary.  Certainly;  for  upon  any 
other  interpretation  he  must  have  blamed 
them  for  resisting  what  he  did  not  know 
they  had  ever  had;  and  very  unjustly,  be¬ 
cause  none  hut  those  who  had  produced  the 
fruits  of  grace,  could  know  that  they  had 
had  it. 

Mate.  I  am  satisfied  that  Mr.  Andrews 
is  right  in  his  representation  of  human  li¬ 
berty  as  freedom  from  restraint ;  for  I  know 
that  I  am  capable  of  voluntary  action,  and 
have  the  power  of  doing  as  I  please  ;  and 
if,  from  external  authority  or  force,  I  am 
prevented  from  doing  what  I  choose,  yet 
my  inclination  is  my  own,  and  free,  and 
that  determines  my  moral  character.  Call 
this  natural  or  physical  ability ,  it  is  the 
very  thing  that  makes  me  a  moral  agent: 


84 


also,  I  can  easily  see,  that  if  my  views 
should  be  altered,  by  education,  persuasion, 
or  any  thing  that  does  not  destroy  this  li¬ 
berty,  I  shall  still  be  a  moral  agent,  and 
justly  answerable  for  my  actions.  But 
with  regard  to  the  moral  inability  of  which 
he  speaks,  I  have  no  experience;  I  believe 
that  I  am  as  free  to  good  as  to  ev$/  We 
are  told  of  a  concession  of  heathen  philoso¬ 
phers,  who  said  they  “saw  the  better  way 
and  approved,  but  pursued  the  worst;”  but 
they  have  not  affirmed  that  they  were  un¬ 
able  to  pursue  the  better  way.  But  as  Mr. 
Andrews  admits  that  the  moral  inability  of 
us  bad  men  consists  only  in  our  indisposi¬ 
tion  to  good ,  and  is  no  apology  for  our 
mischief;  he  admits  our  moral  agency, 
and  screens  our  character  by  saying  we 
poor  things  are  unable  to  do  good;  which  I 
think  myself  bound,  so  far  as  I  know  my 
own  feelings,  to  deny.  And  so  I  should 
have  often  done,  when  I  have  heard 
preachers  say,  that  we  were  dead  in  sin, 
and  that  natural  men,  as  they  call  us,  re- 


85 


ceive  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 


that  is,  good  things;  but  the  pulpit  is  a  pri¬ 
vileged  place,  from  whence  they  abuse  us 
as  much  as  they  please. 

Physician.  I  confess,  Mr.  Chubb,  your 
views  are  very  different  from  mine,  on  the 
subject  of  inability;  that  which  you  deny, 
I  feel  to  my  sorrow.  I  thought  I  was  a 
Christian,  and  have  been  striving  to  be  such 
for  years;  yet  it  does  seem  from  this  con¬ 
versation,  that  I  am  not.  Mr.  Andrews 
says  that  our  only  inability  is  indisposi¬ 
tion,  because  it  is  impossible  to  prefer  and 
not  prefer  at  the  same  time;  but  that  still 
a  man  may  be  truly  religious  if  he  will.  I 
know  that  I  have  desired  it,  and  when  others 
neglected  I  attended  Christian  ordinances; 
whilst  such  opposed,  I  have  advocated  the 
cause,  and  have  conducted  myself  accord¬ 
ing  to  my  profession.  After  all  this,  how 
can  I  admit  that  I  have  acted  against  my 
will  ?  I  am  very  sure,  that  if  I  am  not  a 
Christian,  it  is  purely  because  it  was  not  in 
my  power;  and  not  because  I  did  not  wish 


86 


to  be^^but  because  I  have  not  had  saving 
special  grace. 

Missionary .  Very  far  be  it  from  me  so 
much  as  to  insinuate,  that  any  man  who 
professes,  is  not  what  he  professes  to  be;  I 
hope  ever  to  treat  you,  Doctor,  both  as  a 
Christian  and  a  gentleman.  To  have  insi¬ 
nuated  that  you  were  a  Christian  merely 
from  your  regard  to  character,  would  have 
been  the  charge  of  hypocrisy.  To  search 
the  heart  is  neither  in  my  power,  nor  be¬ 
longs  to  my  province.  But  since  you  have 
expressed  your  own  doubts,  it  can  give  no 
offence  to  say,  that  many  who  have  long 
professed,  have  also,  upon  a  more  minute 
examination  of  their  convictions,  ends,  and 
motives  of  conduct,  discovered  that  they 
had  been  only  partially  convinced,  and  had 
taken  religion  as  the  safe  course,  hoping  for 
clearer  views;  and  that  all  that  they  had 
effected  had  been  done  from  slavish  fear, 
and  without  any  real  love  of  God  or  holi¬ 
ness.  These  have  willed  and  acted  against 
the  inclination  of  their  hearts,  but  have 

«ttt  &  u 


87 


been  defective  of  no  power,  unless  disposi¬ 
tion  be  such  ;  and  because  it  is  “with  the 
heart  man  believeth  unto  salvation,'” 
such  have  had  no  saving  faith;  yet  was  it 
their  duty  to  have  given  their  hearts: — 
“  My  son,  give  me  thine  heart”  God 
himself  has  said  so;  consequently  to  allege, 
as  you  have  unguardedly  done,  that  it  was 
because  you  had  not  had  saving  special 
grace,  is  to  cast  the  blame  on  Him,  of  your 
not  doing  the  very  thing  which  he  com¬ 
mands  you  to  do.  And  because  he  is  infi¬ 
nitely  amiable  and  excellent,  and  the 
source  of  all  loveliness,  and  has  both  pro¬ 
vided  an  abundance  of  the  evidence  of  this, 
and  given  that  intelligence  wherebj  you 
are  able  to  discover  the  truth,  your  excuse 
is  wholly  incapable  of  a  justification,  even 
upon  the  footing  of  reason.  But  if  that 
grace  had  been  bestowed,  you  could  not 
have  known  it,  except  by  its  fruits,  and 
these  would  have  been  your  voluntary  ac¬ 
tions;  for  our  natural  liberty,  or  free 
agency,  is  no  more  affected  by  the  efficacy 


88 


of  grace,  than  by  the  bondage  of  corrup¬ 
tion;  both  the  sinner  and  the  saint  freely 
pursue  the  objects  of  their  choice. 

Physician.  I  little  expected  such  results 
when  this  free  conversation  commenced, 
and  I  have  not  a  hard  thought  of  you,  Mr. 
Andrews,  but  sincerely  thank  you  for  the 
candid  and  conscientious  admonitions  which 
I  have  received.  But  I  fear  I  have  erred 
from  the  beginning;  and  that  all  my  profes¬ 
sions,  though  not  hypocrisy,  has  been  a  tis¬ 
sue  of  splendid  self  deceptions;  and  that  I 
am  yet  out  of  the  ark  of  safety.  But  should 
I  begin  again,  I  know  not  how  I  shall  se¬ 
cure  the  important  stake:  my  works  cannot 
merit  .grace,  my  prayers  without  it  are  an 
abomination  ;  my  faith  will  be  no  better  than 
it  was;  I  have  partaken  unworthily;  and  I 
read,  that  it  is  impossible  to  renew  such 
and  bring  them  to  the  faith. 

Missionary .  Doctor,  you  speak  alloge- 
ther  of  danger,  and  nothing  of  guilt.  A  de¬ 
sire  to  be  saved  is  common  to  the  bad  and 
to  the  good,  and  if  this  is  to  be  your  only 


89 


motive,  the  second  effort  will  succeed  no 
better  than  the  first;  all  your  religion  will 
be  vain.  If  your  judgment  of  yourself  be 
correct,  then  you  have  abused  all  the  mer¬ 
cies  you  have  enjoyed,  and  done  nothing 
but  provoke  God  in  all  your  past  life;  your 
own  advantage,  not  his  glory,  has  been 
your  highest  end  in  every  thing,  and  to 
this  moment,  all  you  desire  is  to  get  into 
the  ark  of  safety ,  and  secure  the  impor¬ 
tant  stake.  No  sense  of  sin  appears,  and 
no  hatred  of  it,  except  on  account  of  the 
dangers  itbrings;  you  profess  neithershame 
nor  sorrow.  Your  hands  are  not  tied,  you 
are  a  moral  agent,  blessed  with  a  fine  un¬ 
derstanding  and  good  education,  you  can 
investigate  truth,  and  if  it  produce  no  con¬ 
viction,  but  obtains  a  merely  nominal  re¬ 
ception,  the  blame  of  unbelief  lies  at  your 

own  door.  It  is  the  want  of  a  heart  or  dis- 

1 

position,  not  a  want  of  power  that  threatens 
your  ruin.  Your  works,  instead  of  merit¬ 
ing  grace ,  aggravate  your  guilt;  your  pray¬ 
ers  deserve  to  be  cast  back  in  your  face, 

H  2 


90 


yet  prayer  is  your  duty  ;  yours  is  a  dead 
faith;  you  have  been  an  unworthy  par¬ 
taker,  but  you  have  not  partaken  unwor¬ 
thily  in  the  sense  of  the  apostle;  and  be¬ 
cause  the  ministers  of  Christ  have  laid  be¬ 
fore  you  the  gospel  message,  which  you 
know,  or  might  know,  as  well  as  we  do,  it 
is  impossible  for  us  to  renew  you  ;  but  it 
is  neither  impossible  to  yourself,  for  then 
would  you  be  innocent;  nor  is  it  impossi¬ 
ble  with  God,  or  there  could  be  no  utility 
in  prayer.  The  case  you  have  suspected  to 
he  your  own,  is  not  uncommon;  the  heart 
practises  deception,  so  long  as  our  state  of 
trial  endures;  it  calls  virtue  vice,  and  vice 
virtue;  and  can  maintain  conscientiousness 
under  circumstances  of  extreme  degrada¬ 
tion.  If  out  of  the  heart  are  the  issues  of 
life  and  death,  it  must  be  kept  with  all  di¬ 
ligence.  If  you  wish  to  do  your  first  works, 
come  not  as  a  favourite  of  heaven,  but  in 
the  character  I  have  this  moment  described 
with  painful  reluctance,  but  I  hope  without 
the  most  distant  wish  cither  to  claim  supe- 


91 


riority  or  to  depreciate  you  in  the  eyes  of 
the  Captain  and  Mate.  We  are  each  very 
soon  to  render  his  account  at  a  tribunal, 
which  neither  gives  a  respite,  nor  allows 
an  appeal. 

Mate.  The  missionaries  have  converted 
the  people  of  Hawaii,  and  Mr.  Andrews 
seems  to  be  intent  upon  carrying  the  whole 
crew.  The  Doctor  is  a  moral,  good  man, 
and  since  should  there  be  a  hereafter,  such 
have  nothing  to  fear,  he  can  have  no  cause 
of  alarm.  My  Christianity,  which  is  as 
old  as  the  world,  makes  men  happy,  not 
drives  them  to  distraction,  by  presenting 
imaginary  causes  of  fear.  If  mercy  and  be¬ 
nevolence  are  honourable  traits  of  charac¬ 
ter,  Deity  must  possess  them  in  the  highest 
degree,  and  to  suppose  he  will  destroy  the 
best  members  in  society,  because  their  vir¬ 
tue  is  not  sublimated  in  the  puritanical  la¬ 
boratory  of  the  missionaries,  is  an  impeach¬ 
ment  of  his  goodness;  and  a  greater  crime 
than  any  that  can  be  conjured  up  in  the 


9  2 

imagination  of  the  Doctor,  to  drive  him  to 
enthusiasm. 

Captain.  You  labour  under  a  mistake, 
Mr.  Chubb;  not  a  word  has  been  spoken  or 
designed,  against  either  the  conduct  or  cha¬ 
racter  of  the  Doctor;  Mr. Andrews  respects 
him  as  highly  as  we  all  do;  nor  have  his 
motives,  as  between  him  and  his  God,  been 
in  any  manner  touched  offensively;  what¬ 
ever  has  been  said  has  been  for  his  advan¬ 
tage,  and  within  the  compass  authorized  by 
himself.  Every  one  knows,  that  the  same 
conduct,  which  is  praiseworthy  in  the  sight 
of  men,  may  be  wholly  defective  in  the 
sight  of  Him  who  looks  upon  the  heart,  and 
vice  versa.  You  often  hear  men  appeal  to 
him  in  support  of  their  conduct  when  it  is 
questioned  by  us.  Although  you  seemed 
more  the  Christian  than  I  claimed  to  be  in 
our  former  conversation,  we  have  changed 
aspects;  the  same  temperature  which  li¬ 
quefies  some  substances,  can  harden  others. 
Missionary.  Mr.  Chubb’s  Christianity 


93 


as  old  as  the,  creation ,  consists  of  pure 
principles  of  virtue,  purloined  from  revela¬ 
tion,  and  set  to  the  account  of  his  goddess, 
Reason  ;  they  exhibit  a  degree  of  perfection, 
to  which  reason  has  never  arrived  when 
left  to  herself.  Where  deism  takes  sanctu¬ 
ary  under  the  name  of  Christianity,  there 
exists  at  least  some  sensibility.  His  creed, 
which  in  other  respects  consists  only  of  ne¬ 
gatives,  by  rejecting  a  judgment  and  retri¬ 
bution,  soothes  the  conscience,  supersedes 
the  investigation  of  motives,  renders  the 
examination  of  past  conduct  less  important, 
and  thus  promotes  at  least  a  temporary  re¬ 
lief  which  he  denominates  happiness.  But 
how  it  can  he  an  impeachment  of  the  good¬ 
ness  of  the  Governor  of  the  world,  to  sup¬ 
pose  he  will  support  the  dignity  of  his  go¬ 
vernment,  and  the  happiness  of  his  sub¬ 
jects,  by  maintaining  his  laws  and  punish¬ 
ing  iniquity,  remains  for  Mr.  Chubb  to  es¬ 
tablish. 

Physician.  The  good  opinion  of  me,  in 
which  you  all  so  kindly  concur,  demands,  and 


94 


has  my  gratitude;  but  I  subscribe  to  the 
distinction  taken  by  the  Captain,  and  plain¬ 
ly  discern,  not  only  that  the  same  conduct, 
which  you  have  joined  to  approve,  will  be 
found  wanting  when  weighed  in  the  ba¬ 
lances  of  the  sanctuary;  but  that  it  will  ap¬ 
pear  even  to  you,  when  elucidated  by  every 
secret  concomitant  circumstance,  in  the  day 
of  the  revelation  of  the  righteous  judgment  of 
God,  to  have  been  unmingled  guilt  and  hor¬ 
rible  pollution.  Had  I  professed  the  singular 
Christianity  adopted  by  Mr.  Chubb,  I  might 
at  least  have  had  the  credit  of  being  sin¬ 
cere;  but  whilst  professing  the  truth  I  have 
practised  a  lie,  and  that  not  to  men,  but  to 
God  ;  professing  a  saving  faith,  I  have  wor¬ 
shipped  an  unknown  God;  my  washing  has 
been  to  deeper  stains;  I  have  secretly  cru¬ 
cified  afresh  the  Lord  of  life,  whilst  acting 
publicly  the  farce  of  commemorating  his 
death;  he  saw  I  was  destitute  of  the  wed¬ 
ding  garment,  and  mercifully  kept  me  from 
that  sleep  of  death  which  fell  upon  like 
offenders  at  Corinth.  In  my  very  songs 


95 


of  praise  I  was  stealing  the  honours  to  my¬ 
self  which  I  professed  for  him,  even  whilst 
he  was  witnessing  the  theft.  I  tell  these 
things,  because  you  are  to  hear  them  at  the 
judgment.  There  are  no  tears  too  bitter, 
no  sorrows  too  cutting,  not  hell  itself,  can 
purge  my  crimes. 

Missionary.  Who  may  comfort  him 
whom  God  afflicts?  The  evil  of  sin  is  infi¬ 
nite,  and  its  punishment  of  course  intermi¬ 
nable;  to  extenuate  is  to  take  the  side  of 
the  enemy  of  man.  If  your  representations 
be  not  founded  in  error,  your  present  judg¬ 
ment  of  yourself  does  not  exceed  the  truth. 
But  there  is  one  drop  of  comfort  in  this 
bitter  potion,  the  discovery  is  on  this  side 
death,  a  door  of  hope  is  opened  in  this 
valley  of  Achor,  and  mercy  is  not  clean 
gone  for  ever. 

Captain.  I  am  convinced  that  a  man 
may  be  able  to  investigate  the  evidence 
and  discriminate  the  criteria  of  revelation, 
perceive  the  harmony  of  the  divine  dispen¬ 
sations,  distinguish  between  real  and  ima- 


96 


ginary  duties,  mark  the  proofs  of  divine 
perfections,  and  discern  the  propriety  of  a 
final  judgment,  and  yet  be  destitute  of  sin¬ 
cere  piety,  and  his  heart  averse  to  God  and 
holiness.  The  present  afflictive  condition 
of  the  Doctor,  furnishes  indubitable  proof 
of  the  necessity  of  distinguishing  character¬ 
istics  of  a  Christian’s  spiritual  state;  for  al¬ 
though  man  is  free  as  a  moral  agent  whilst 
the  slave  of  sin,  and  might  do  without  grace, 
what  is  always  to  be  attributed  to  the  aid 
of  the  Spirit,  he  never  of  himself  does  a 
holy  act.  I  ardently  desire  therefore  some 
criterion  of  special  grace. 

Mate.  I  hear  that  word  grace  in  so  many 
connexions,  that  I  am  not  surprised  that 
you  are  ignorant  of  that  which  is  special. 

Missionary.  Special  grace  is  not  a  scrip¬ 
tural  expression,  any  more  than  common 
grace,  free  will,  perseverance,  original  sin, 
sacrament,  and  others  in  common  use. 
But  there  is  not  much  difficulty  in  under¬ 
standing  what  is  usually  meant  by  them, 
though  there  be  some  diversity.  Grace 


97 


signifies  favour;  and  because  we  have  not 
deserved  salvation,  redemption  is  denomi¬ 
nated  grace  in  Christ :  and  in  the  same 
manner,  the  gospel  or  glad  tidings  of  such 
provision  is  called  the  grace  wherein  we 
stand,  or  which  is  made  known  to  us;  but 
in  common  conversation  the  immediate  in¬ 
fluence  of  the  Spirit  upon  the  heart  is  more 
usually  distinguished  by  the  name  grace, 
because  it  is  a  favour  to  which  we  have  no 
title,  God  being  just  if  it  be  not  bestowed. 

Mate.  If  Deity  can  thus  bestow  grace, 
justice  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,  I 
do  not  see  any  need  of  a  Redeemer,  be¬ 
cause  grace  might  save  without  him. 

Missionary .  That  we  are  moral  agents, 
and  possess  and  exercise  at  our  pleasure, 
those  powers  which  render  us  accountable, 
and  know  good  and  evil,  and  consequently 
are  the  subjects  of  a  moral  government,  all 
perceive;  and  the  erection  of  such  govern¬ 
ment  implies  that  justice  must  and  will  be 
administered.  Nevertheless  the  Sovereign 
of  the  universe  may  extend  his  gifts  to 

i 


98 


whom  he  pleases,  if  thereby  he  can  main¬ 
tain  his  character  as  Rectoral  Governor;  and 
this  he  can  do,  and  has  done,  by  making 
the  scheme  of  redemption  a  part  of  his  ori¬ 
ginal  plan  in  the  creation  and  government 
of  men. 

Physician.  It  is  for  his  gift  of  grace, 
that  I  wait  and  long.  If  he  shall  bestow 
this  upon  me,  then  shall  I  believe  and  obey 
indeed,  and  my  sorrow  shall  be  changed 
into  joy. 

Missionary.  We  are  dependent  both  on 
providence  and  grace,  and  ought  to  feel  so; 
and  may  well  pray,  turn  thou  me  and  I 
shall  he  turned.  But  we  have  no  right  to 
make  the  want  of  divine  influence  an  apo¬ 
logy  for  our  sinful  negligence;  it  is  no 
where  represented  as  a  previous  condition, 
upon  which  duty  is  required  of  us.  It  has 
been  said,  “  improve  common,  and  you 
shall  obtain  special  grace:”  also,  “  do  what 
you  can,  and  }7ou  will  find  power  to  do 
what  you  could  not.”  But  this  is  to  make 
doing  the  price  of  obtaining;  for  special 


99 


grace  is  then  by  the  supposition  merited, 
by  improving  that  which  is  denominated 
common.  It  would  be  better  to  drop  the 
terms  common  and  special.  The  public 
call  of  the  gospel  is  indeed  a  common  grace 
or  favour.  The  blessings  of  Providence, 
and  the  invitations  and  promises  of  the 
word,  are  really  so  many  strivings  of  the 
Spirit,  and  they  who  reject  them,  resist 
the  Holy  Ghost.  As  I  see  no  need  of  a 
common  influence  of  the  Spirit  to  render 
the  condemnation  of  the  wicked  just,  and 
find  no  such  thing  in  the  Scriptures,  1  nei¬ 
ther  use  those  phrases,  nor  intend  to  blame 
the  pious  men  who  do.  It  appears  neverthe¬ 
less  safest  to  demand,  as  do  the  Scriptures, 
the  wicked  to  turn  and  work  out  their  own 
salvation;  and  to  pray  to  God,  to  work  in 
them,  to  ivill  and,  to  do  according  to  his 
pleasure ;  and  let  them  employ  every  talent 
Providence  has  entrusted  with  them,  under 
the  encouraging  promise,  “  To  him  that 
hath,"  that  is,  who  improves  what  he  hath, 
“  shall  be  given,”  but  for  the  improvement, 


100 


both  the  purpose  and  the  act,  they  are  be¬ 
holden  to  God,  to  whom  belongs  all  the 
glory. 

Mate.  Mr.  Andrews,  upon  supposi¬ 
tion,  that  all  good  desires,  as  you  affirm, 
spring  from  some  influence  of  the  Deity 
upon  the  minds  of  men,  and  that  this  is 
the  Comforter  who  was  to  come  with  the 
gospel  according  to  the  promise  of  its 
founder,  whence  did  the  good  people  in 
still  older  4fmes  get  their  good  disposi- 
'  -lions? 

Missionary.  As  you  have  affirmed,  Mr. 
Chubb,  that  your  Christianity  is  as  old 
as  creation,  so  we  hold,  that  the  true  gos¬ 
pel  was  given  in  the  promise  of  Christ, 
made  in  Eden  immediately  after  the  fall; 
that  every  soul,  that  has  been  saved,  from 
Abel  unto  this  hour,  has  been  through  his 
merits;  and  that  all  real  holiness  among 
our  fallen  race,  has  been  given  for  his  sake, 
and  by  the  influence  of  the  same  Spirit, 
who  was  promised  to  the  disciples  under 
the  name  you  have  mentioned.  As  they 


101 


were  to  be  deprived  of  the  bodily  presence, 
guidance  and  protection  of  their  Master,  he 
promised  that  the  Spirit  should  be  their 
teacher ,  protector ,  advocate ,  or  com¬ 
forter*  From  him  did  the  prophets  and 
apostles  derive  the  extraordinary  gifts,  so 
long  as  they  lived;  and  at  their  instance 
and  in  their  presence,  were  they  bestowed 
on  others;  a  distinction  not  conferred  upon 
evangelists  and  ordinary  ministers.  He 
operates,  not  merely  through  the  interven¬ 
tion  of  secondary  causes,  which  some  of 
your  own  creed  will  allow,  but  immediate¬ 
ly  communicating  the  life  of  God  to  the 
soul  of  man,  and  uniting  our  spirits  to  Him, 
who  is  eternal.  These  ordinary  influences 
are  bestowed  in  unequal  degrees,  upon  all 
the  saints  in  every  dispensation,  softening, 
correcting,  consoling,  and  strengthening 
their  hearts,  both  as  the  preliminaries  of 
conversion,  and  the  help  of  their  conserva¬ 
tion  unto  eternal  life.  Nor  is  there  any  more 

*  IlctficiKMilc;. 

I  2 


102 


difficulty  in  forming  an  idea  of  the  manner 
of  such  an  impression,  than  of  that  in  which 
soul  and  body  exert  a  mutual  influence. 
His  creation  of,  and  communication  with 
souls,  who  is  a  Spirit,  is  even  more  con¬ 
ceivable,  than  his  erection  and  support  of 
the  material  world. 

Mate.  I  think  the  habit  of  virtue  may  be 
acquired  like  all  other  useful  habits;  and,  if 
so,  there  can  be  no  need  of  a  supernatural 
agency,  even  though  it  be  a  thing  possible. 

Missionary .  But  this  is  to  suppose  vir¬ 
tue  and  vice  equally  natural,  which  is  con¬ 
trary  to  fact;  every  effort  of  true  virtue  is 
an  instance  of  self  control ;  every  vice  is  a 
self  indulgence  to  which  our  nature  inclines: 
also,  the  motives  to  holiness  are  distant  and 
darkened  by  unbelief,  whilst  those  to  evil 
are  near,  and  being  of  immediate  advan¬ 
tage,  more  than  outweigh  the  reasons  for 
self  denial;  the  incentives  to  virtue  are 
mere  matters  of  belief,  but  those  to  vice  are 
subjects  of  knowledge  and  experience,  and 
congenial  to  our  desires.  Upon  your  scheme 


103 


man’s  virtue  is  a  good  not  proceeding  from 
Deity;  who,  when  he  had  formed  him,  left 
him  to  float  at  random  upon  the  floods  of 
uncertainty,  until  he  should  merge  into  the 
deep  of  everlasting  oblivion. 

Captain.  Mr.  Chubb  has  not  yet  disco¬ 
vered  the  tremendous  conclusions,  to  which 
arguments  founded  on  his  principles,  ne¬ 
cessarily  bring  him;  and  if  I  could  hope 
that  his  conviction  would  be  the  result  of 
his  present  opposition,  I  would  not  offer  an 
interruption.  But  permit  me,  Mr.  Andrews, 
to  renew  my  question,  and  to  ask  for  some 
criterion  of  that  grace  which  accompanies 
salvation  ;  in  other  words,  how  does  a  man 
know  that  he  is  really  a  Christian  ? 

Physician.  Pardon  me,  Captain,  duty 
and  a  regard  to  your  safety,-  impel  me  to 
challenge  the  motive  of  that  question.  In 
this  manner  have  I  deceived  myself  for 
years.  A  desire  of  happiness  is  one  thing, 
of  holiness  another;  an  anxiety  to  be  saved 
I  still  possess,  but  I  do  not  with  the  same 
certainty  know,  that  I  love  and  follow  the 


104 


examples  of  those  who  have  entered  into  pa¬ 
radise.  The  kingdom  will  be  rightly  admi¬ 
nistered,  justice  will  be  done  to  you  and 
to  me;  and  if  either  of  us  or  both  shall  be 
finally  condemned,  it  ought  to  be  so;  and 
any  wish  to  be  carried  to  heaven,  without 
the  holiness  which  would  make  it  a  place 
of  happiness  to  us,  must  be  as  absurd  as  it 
is  sinful. 

Missionary.  Duty  and  advantage  are 
joined  by  the  Author  of  our  beings;  it  is 
only  when  regard  to  interest  preponde¬ 
rates,  that  censure  is  incurred.  Knowledge 
is  in  order  to  practice.  Yet  is  it  possible  to 
inquire  for  doctrines  and  duties  perpetual¬ 
ly,  and  remain  strangers  to  ourselves.  Self- 
examination  is  the  rational  mean  of  self- 
knowledge  ;  it  is  expressly  required  as  a  pre¬ 
cursor  of  the  eucharist;  and  supposed  to  be 
an  employment  of  all  believers  in  the  inter¬ 
rogation,  “Know  ye  not  your  ownselves?” 
Ignorance  of  our  state  must  affect  our  pray¬ 
ers,  praises,  inquiries  and  deportment.  But 
the  sources  of  deception  are  so  numerous, 
that  for  a  Christian  to  escape  their  influence, 


105 


requires  more  vigilance  and  impartiality, 
than  falls  to  the  allotment  of  the  major 
number. 

Captain.  I  feel  the  justice,  and  am 
grateful  for  the  faithfulness  of  the  caution, 
which  the  Doctor  has  given  me.  Grace  is 
favour;  solicitude  for  a  proof  of  God’s  spe¬ 
cial  favour  to  a  vile  rebel,  who,  though  a 
constant  beneficiary,  has  hitherto  resisted 
his  power,  and  denied  his  goodness,  does 
argue  a  predominant  love  of  self,  and  too 
plainly  evinces  a  continuance  of  the  old 
idolatry  of  my  heart. 

Missionary .  We  may  justly  love  God 
for  the  gifts  of  his  providence,  but  if  we 
have  no  other  affection  for  him  than  this, 
it  is  no  more  than  a  natural  love,  attainable 
by  the  unrenewed,  and  perfectly  compati¬ 
ble  with  the  existence  of  pride  and  other 
evil  affections.  But  when  you  wished  a 
criterion  of  grace,  the  favourableness  of 
God  to  you  in  particular  was  not  that  for 
which  you  desired  a  proof;  but  your  inqui¬ 
ry  was  aimed  to  the  discovery  of  the  truth 
of  spiritual  influence  on  yourself;  it  being 


106 


in  its  nature  imperceptible,  and  to  be  known 
only  by  its  effects.  What  character  is  ours, 
or  what  state  we  are  in,  is  worthy  of  strict 
and  solemn  investigation.  But  it  is  not  in 
my  power  to  condense  this  labour;  it  will 
be  the  work  of  the  residue  of  your  life,  to 
test  your  hatred  of  sin,  and  love  of  holiness, 
the  truth  of  your  faith  and  the  foundation 
of  your  hope.  Sometimes  your  joy  will 
probably  rise  almost  to  triumph  ;  and  soon 
darkness  may  supervene;  but  God,  his  pur¬ 
pose,  word  and  promises,  will  remain  the 
same;  so  that  you  may  afterwards  find, 
that  when  you  were  weak ,  then  ivere  you 
strong. 

Captain.  I  am  aware  that  although  all 
are  justly  under  condemnation  for  their 
sins,  until  they  obtain  a  vital  union  unto  the 
Redeemer;  yet  that  this  life  is  a  state  of 
trial,  where  our  destinies  are  fixed :  and 
that  for  the  same  reasons,  that  this  world 
is  separated  from  the  next,  and  we  leave 
behind  our  present  employments  and  bo¬ 
dies,  when  we  pass  into  the  future  state, 


107 


and  to  other  scenes  ;  it  is  also  fit,  that  we 
should,  whilst  here,  be  subject  to  tempta¬ 
tions,  for  the  exercise  of  faith  and  patience, 
and  hope  and  love.  I  do  not  expect  there¬ 
fore,  that  by  any  single  mark  of  grace, 
such  a  confidence  of  salvation  should  be 
gained  as  to  remove  forever  all  rising 
doubts;  and  do  suppose  that  such  full  as¬ 
surance,  with  few  exceptions,  might  be 
incompatible  with  the  designs  of  the  Sove¬ 
reign.  Nevertheless,  it  is  expedient  by  all 
proper  means,  to  become  acquainted  with 
those  traits  of  Christian  character  which  are 
tests  of  the  truth  of  grace,  that  we  may  not 
deceive  ourselves. 

Missionary .  If  the  future  scenes  and  em¬ 
ployments,  which  you  have  correctly  re¬ 
presented  as  diverse  from  the  present,  are 
to  constitute  the  happiness  of  the  blessed, 
the  anticipation  of  them  ought  to  afford 
us,  even  here,  some  pleasure ;  this  circum¬ 
stance  can  furnish  us  some  test  of  the  cor¬ 
rectness  of  our  views  and  desires.  One 
source  of  future  blessedness  will  consist  in 


108 


the  knowledge  of  things  as  they  are,  the 
contemplation  of  the  natural  perfections  and 
moral  excellences  of  the  great  I  AM.  If 
our  present  desires  therefore  tend  to  these 
objects,  as  revealed  in  the  word  and  works 
of  God,  it  is  a  ground  of  presumption  that 
we  are  at  least  in  some  degree  prepared  for 
the  enjoyment  of  the  future  full  exhibition 
of  his  glorious  perfections.  Another  source 
of  happiness  will  consist  in  the  possession 
and  exercise  of  the  affection  of  love  for  Him, 
who  is  the  fountain,  as  well  as  sovereign  dis¬ 
poser  of  all  good:  even  now,  therefore,  our 
hearts  should  acquiesce  in  every  display  of 
his  perfections;  the  armour  of  Him  who 
bears  the  thunders  in  his  hands,  so  far  from 
terrifying,  should  delight  his  children,  who 
rejoice  that  their  Father  reigns.  A  third 
spring  of  future  blessedness  flows  in  from  si¬ 
milarity;  for  we  shall  be  like  him  in  holi¬ 
ness,  which,  though  not  perfect,  will  be  de¬ 
livered  from  the  least  and  last  remains  of 
sin:  accordingly,  in  this  life  the  believer 
continually  aims  at  more  exalted  rectitude, 


109 


finding  Wisdom’s  ways  to  be  pleasant¬ 
ness ,  and  delighting  in  the  law  of  the 
Lord  after  the  inner  man. 

Captain.  Mr.  Andrews,  you  present  me 
with  views  boundless  as  creation,  and  end¬ 
less  as  eternity.  I  see  that  a  knowledge, 
though  far  inferior  to  His,  to  whose  purposes 
the  universe  is  conformed,  yet,  when  free 
from  error,  must  perceive  things  as  they 
are,  and  according  to  their  respective  de¬ 
grees  of  excellence;  consequently  the  king¬ 
doms  of  nature,  grace,  and  glory,  in  all 
their  parts,  will  stand  in  relief  in  their  just 
proportions.  But  as  the  sun  now  obliterates 
by  his  rays  the  starry  heaven,  so  must  then 
the  divine  glory,  by  its  superior  lustre, 
bury  in  darkness  all  created  good.  The 
blessed,  being  delivered  from  all  sin  and 
temptation,  the  love  of  his  moral  excel¬ 
lence  will  absorb  their  every  other  affec¬ 
tion.  Also,  since  the  creatures  of  God  are 
ever  estimated  by  Him  in  proportion  to 
the  moral  purity,  with  which  he  invests 
them,  the  saints,  because  finite,  and  God 


K 


110 


infinite,  must  advance  in  knowledge,  love, 
holiness,  and  the  favour  of  God,  and  in  all 
the  happiness  proceeding  from  each,  pro¬ 
gressive,  for  ever  and  ever. 

Missionary.  Any  man  who  believes  in 
the  existence  of  God,  is  able,  from  the  con¬ 
templation  of  the  grandeur  of  the  moun¬ 
tains,  seas,  clouds,  and  visible  heavens,  to 
extend  his  thoughts  to  Him  who  has  cre¬ 
ated  them  all,  and  who  guides  and  adorns 
the  whole ;  but  to  be  rightly  affected  by 
the  amiableness  and  beauty  of  moral  excel¬ 
lence,  the  disposition  of  man  must  be  recti¬ 
fied  ;  and  when  ameliorated,  its  sensibility 
to  holiness  enables  it  to  behold,  with  in¬ 
creasing  ardour,  in  a  continued  progress 
from  glory  to  glory,  the  righteousness,  pu¬ 
rity,  goodness,  and  loveliness  of  Him,  who 
is  infinite,  eternal,  and  immutable,  in  all 
his  moral,  as  well  as  his  natural  perfec¬ 
tions.  It  is  therefore  certainly  no  weak 
proof  of  a  spiritual  renovation,  to  take  plea¬ 
sure  in  the  contemplation  of  that  holiness 
of  the  Divine  character,  which  cannot  look 


Ill 


upon  sin  except  with  detestation,  and  to 
acquiesce  with  pleasure  in  the  conviction, 
that  whatever  ought  to  be  done  in  the  ad¬ 
ministration  of  the  government  of  the  uni¬ 
verse,  shall  not  fail  of  accomplishment. 

Mate.  I  should  think  a  culprit  must  be 
well  ascertained  of  his  own  escape,  before 
he  can  derive  satisfaction  from  the  stern 
rectitude  of  his  judge.  These  representa¬ 
tions,  both  of  the  Christian’s  moral  charac¬ 
ter  here,  and  of  his  future  happiness,  are 
new  to  me.  I  thought  Paradise  was  made 
up,  as  Mr.  Andrews  says  my  creed  is,  all 
of  negatives;  no  sin,  no  sorrow,  no  pain, 
and  that  beyond  this  all  was  figure;  green 
pastures  and  still  waters,  day  without 
night,  golden  streets,  and  rich  temples,  and 
the  like. 

Missionary.  The  senses  are  to  be  aban¬ 
doned  with  the  body;  in  the  separate  state 
sensible  enjoyments  must  consequently 
wholly  fail:  at  the  resurrection  we  receive 
a  spiritual  body,  not  fitted  for  animal  plea¬ 
sure;  and  if  it  were, .the  means  must  be 


11 2 


excluded,  when  the  heavens  and  the  earth 
shall  have  passed  away.  But  granting  that 
the  pleasures  of  the  senses  can  exist  with¬ 
out  actual  gratification,  as  in  dreams,  such 
happiness  would  be  of  a  kind  inferior  to 
spiritual;  for  sense  without  hope  leaves  us 
miserable  in  this  world.  Our  condition 
here  is  designedly  preliminary,  and  intend¬ 
ed  to  exclude  motives  which  might  be  too 
powerful  for  a  state  of  trial.  But  at  death, 
we  pass  into  the  society  of  the  greater  por¬ 
tion  of  the  creation,  the  spiritual  world, 
whose  happiness  is  suited  to  their  natures: 
and  ours,  though  now  for  important  reasons 
concealed  from  us,  will  then  be  found  “a 
far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory.”  The  pleasures  of  sense  disqualify 
for  these  enjoyments.  If  pride,  selfishness, 
injustice,  and  all  deception  were  banished, 
and  substituted  by  the  love  of  God  and 
man,  earth  would  itself  become  a  paradise. 
Let  guilt  and  pollution  be  removed,  and 
the  Christian  has  nothing  to  fear  from  jus- 


113 


tice,  which  is  really  goodness,  guided  by 
wisdom,  and  executed  by  power. 

Mate.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  same  diffi¬ 
culty  attends  your  ideas  of  happiness  which 
existed  in  the  prevailing  philosophy  of  the 
Greeks  and  Romans.  We  are  told  that 
they  taught  that  wisdom  was  the  power  of 
distinguishing  what  conduct  was  according 
to  nature,  from  what  was  against  nature, 
and  that  every  man  had  a  portion  of  this. 
That  virtue  was  a  life  according  to  nature, 
and  that  this  was  man’s  chief  good  or  high¬ 
est  happiness ;  which  he  accordingly  was 
enabled  to  pursue.  This  appears  to  me,  to 
leave  virtue  undefined  :  so  upon  your  hy¬ 
pothesis  I  see  not  how  that  moral  rectitude 
or  purity,  in  which  you  also  make  happi¬ 
ness  to  consist,  is  to  be  ascertained,  for 
what  some  make  holiness,  others  count 
sin. 

Missionary.  The  will  of  God  is  the 
foundation  of  duty.  This  he  revealed  at 
the  first,  and  when  it  was  gone  much  to 
decay,  he  gave  a  written  law,  and  explain- 

k  2 


114 


ed  it  by  the  prophets.  Then  Christ  came, 
showing  still  more  clearly  the  extent  and 
spirituality  of  that  law,  and  leaving  with  it 
the  gospel,  he  sent  the  Holy  Spirit.  Chris¬ 
tians  have  therefore  on  this  point  all  desi¬ 
rable  certainty.  But  where  revelation  has 
not  come,  those  having  not  the  law ,  are  a 
law  unto  themselves ;  they  have  the  tra¬ 
ditional  idea  of  God,  a  moral  sense  and 
reason,  and  will  be  judged  only  according 
to  what  they  have. 

Captain.  When  I  wished  a  characteris¬ 
tic  of  special  grace,  the  word  special  was 
denied;  I  renewed  my  inquiry,  and  was 
told  of  the  happiness  of  heaven,  and  shown 
that  the  work  of  grace  was  to  fit  us  for  this, 
and  consequently  a  pleasure  in  such  spiritual 
employment,  was  a  characteristic;  but  I 
am  so  defective,  that  this  affords  me  no 
security.  If  I  could  know  what  the  aids 
of  the  Spirit  are,  and  his  work  in  those  du¬ 
ties,  which  are  denominated  graces,  I 
should  be  better  able  to  judge  of  myself, 
and  pf  what  I  ought  to  do  and  expect. 


115 


Missionary.  Man  is  intelligent,  and  mo¬ 
ral  or  voluntary;  the  objects  of  his  choice 
are  good  and  evil ;  but  the  latter  is  chosen 
only  as  good.  Every  man  has  a  disposi¬ 
tion  or  heart,  which  in  his  natural  state  in¬ 
clines  to  earth  and  sense,  whereby  he  is 
not  fit  for  heaven,  and  could  not  enjoy  it, 
if  he  were  there  unchanged,  for  the  will 
never  chooses  against  the  bent  of  the  mind. 
Man  is  guided  by  inclination  not  reason, 
but  when  grace  changes  his  disposition, 
then  and  not  before,  is  he  rightly  affected 
by  motives  to  good.  The  precepts  of  the 
law,  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  promises, 
ordinances,  example,  counsel,  warnings,  and 
various  other  motives,  are  appointed  to  ope¬ 
rate  upon  the  will ;  its  only  exercise  is  to 
incline  or  refuse;  if  in  such  choice  or  aver¬ 
sion  the  party  is  vigorous,  he  is  said  to  be 
affected.  All  of  the  affections  of  course 
partake  either  of  inclination  or  disinclina¬ 
tion  ;  if  the  object  be  present,  it  is  either 
love  or  hatred,  joy  or  sorrow;  if  future,  it 
is  desire  or  aversion,  hope  or  fear.  But 


116 


when  the  impression  is  sudden  or  violent, 
the  man  is  not  merely  affected,  but  suffers, 
instead  of  affection,  passion  being  the  re¬ 
sult.  As  the  effects  of  motives  depend 
upon  the  disposition  or  heart  of  the  man, 
the  affectiqns  ordinarily  are  characterized 
by  its  state.  If  the  heart  has  been  changed 
by  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the 
affections  will  accord  with  the  renewed 
state,  and  whilst  viewed  as  the  act  of  the 
party,  they  are  denominated  duties,  be¬ 
cause  incumbent  without  such  aid;  but 
when  considered  as  resulting  from  the 
change  of  the  natural  disposition,  they  are 
distinguished  by  the  name  of  graces,  or 
gracious  affections.  Man  is  dependent  on 
Providence  for  every  act;  but  the  moral 
character  of  such  exercises  being  derived 
from  the  regeneration  of  his  heart  or  dispo¬ 
sition,  they  are  properly  accounted  graces, 
for  it  is  God,  who  by  changing  his  heart 
works  in  him  to  will  and  to  do. 

Captain.  I  perceive  that  thus  religion 
consists  much  in  right  affections;  but  faith, 


117 


humility,  gratitude,  and  other  duties,  are 
also  called  graces,  though  they  are  not  af¬ 
fections.  I  wish  to  know  how  these  can  be 
referred  to  the  operation  of  the  Spirit. 

Missionary.  I  told  you  that  man  is  intel¬ 
ligent  as  well  as  voluntary  ;  and  described 
him  under  his  moral  aspect,  because  that  is 
most  important ;  it  is  by  his  power  of  choos¬ 
ing  that  he  applies  his  faculty  of  perceiving, 
to  what  objects  he  pleases.  The  Spirit  can 
suggest  ideas  to  the  mind  immediately,  but 
this  would  not  change  his  moral  character, 
as  in  the  case  of  Balaam.  Such  extraordi¬ 
nary  gifts  probably  ceased  with  the  Apos¬ 
tles.  He  can  mediately  enlighten  the 
understanding  by  changing  the  heart;  for 
the  objective  evidence  is  abundantly  suf¬ 
ficient  where  the  man  is  disposed  to  in¬ 
vestigate  the  truth.  It  is  in  this  way,  that 
faith  is  a  gift:  With  the  heart  man  be¬ 
lieves  unto  salvation.  When  a  mind  thus 
disposed  to  inquire,  perceives  the  manifesta¬ 
tions  God  has  made  of  himself  in  his  works 
and  word,  and  in  the  scheme  of  redemp- 


118 


tion;  and  finds  himself  conscious  of  a  capa¬ 
city  to  understand  much  of  what  God  is 
and  has  done;  and  reflects  upon  his  obliga¬ 
tions  to  love  Him  for  both,  his  gratitude 
is  excited  :  but  when  he  brings  into  con¬ 
trast  his  ignorance,  and  opposition  to  the 
greatest  and  best  of  Beings,  who  has  never 
ceased  to  bestow  good,  even  where  evil  was 
deserved;  he  sees  himself  to  be  vile,  and 
with  respect  to  moral  good,  poor  indeed. 
Such  gratitude  and  humility  are  graces, 
because  they  are  the  effects  of  the  unmerit¬ 
ed  change  of  his  disposition  by  the  Holy 
Spirit.  As  the  whole  man  was  astray  by 
moral  defect,  so  by  the  change  of  his  heart 
to  good,  all  his  faculties  of  mind  and  powers 
of  body  are  directed,  though  imperfectly, 
to  the  accomplishment  of  his  duty;  and 
“  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace, 
long  suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith, 
meekness,  temperance. ” 

Physician.  I  have  felt  very  grateful  to 
God  for  his  kindness,  but  this  was  mere 
self-love;  and  I  have  much  reason  to  be 


119 


thankful,  that  I  have  not  perished  in  my 
self-deception ;  if  I  should  ever  have  the 
gratitude  which  you  describe,  as  the  effect 
of  a  spiritual  change,  how  am  I  to  distin¬ 
guish  it  as  such  ? 

Missionary.  The  different  kinds  of  love 
ought  to  be  discriminated,  in  order  by  them 
to  judge  of  our  own  moral  characters.  All 
who  believe  there  is  a  God,  may  have  a 
love  of  Him,  either  for  what  he  has  done, 
or  may  do;  whilst  events  accord  with  their 
wishes,  and  the  divine  government  seems 
not  opposed  to  their  inclinations,  even  the 
wicked  have  no  positive  hatred  of  God,  and 
their  native  enmity  is  latent.  In  such,  tem¬ 
poral  blessings  may  excite  a  natural  grati¬ 
tude,  and  their  worldly  prosperity  be  the 
real  source  of  the  affection.  But  gratitude 
which  arises  from  grace  in  the  soul,  con¬ 
templates  the  good  received  as  a  fruit  and 
proof  of  that  amiableness  in  God,  which  is 
altogether  lovely.  Thus  “we  love  God 
because  he  first  loved  us,”  when  there  was 
nothing  in  us  that  was  lovely  ;  thus  display- 


120 


ing  that  benevolence  of  his  own  nature, 
which  excites  the  love  of  the  saint. 

Mate.  Mr.  Andrews,  I  believe,  that  in 
our  day  it  is  conceded,  that  every  man 
who  thinks  himself  to  be  humble  is  proud  ; 
accordingly,  when  Diogenes  possessed  and 
occupied  only  a  tub  and  a  wallet,  his  snarl¬ 
ing  reproofs  were  evidence  of  his  pride. 
The  philosophers  generally  esteemed  their 
virtue  so  much  their  own,  that  they  are  said 
to  have  accounted  themselves  in  that  inde¬ 
pendent  of  and  even  superior  to  the  gods; 
which  established  their  vanity.  The  pride 
of  the  Pharisees  every  one  recognises.  Hu¬ 
mility  is  esteemed  by  you  the  unfailing 
concomitant  of  a  Christian  profession  at  its 
commencement,  in  its  progress,  and  even  at 
its  consummation  in  heaven.  I  cannot  dis¬ 
cern,  why  that  is  prescribed  as  a  character¬ 
istic,  of  which  every  man,  who  thinks  he 
has  it,  is  sure  to  he  destitute. 

Missionary.  Admitting  the  position  to 
be  true,  that  he  who  thinks  himself  humble 
is  proud,  does  it  follow  either  that  poverty 


121 


of  spirit,  or  a  low  opinion  of  ourselves  is  not 
a  duty,  oi  that  such  views  of  themselves 
should  not  be  inculcated  ?  When  gentlemen 
of  your  own  negative  creed  superciliously 
contemn  our  doctrines,  and  deny  our  prin¬ 
ciples  without  examining  their  evidence  or 
testing  their  truth  ;  and  assume  a  superiori¬ 
ty  of  understanding,  neither  given  you  by 
nature,  nor  acquired  by  education;  is  it 
either  unjust  to  impute  such  pretensions  to 
pride,  or  to  admonish  you,  that  there  is 
such  a  duty  as  humility  ?  Certainly,  to  have 
a  low  opinion  of  ourselves,  and  to  think 
that  our  opinion  of  ourselves  is  low,  are 
very  different  things;  so  much  so,  that  ac¬ 
cording  to  your  position,  they  are  incompa¬ 
tible  with  each  other;  and  I  submit  to  its 
justness,  because,  to  think  we  have  a  low 
opinion  of  ourselves,  is  to  think  that  we  are 
better  than  such  opinion. 

Mate.  Since  you  claim  the  existence  ra¬ 
ther  than  the  name  of  humility;  why  has 
the  Christian  hierarchy  shed  more  Chris¬ 
tian  blood,  than  all  the  world  beside?  And 


L 


why  so  many  divisions  among  yourselves, 
and  so  much  severity  against  each  other? 
These  things  are  the  reverse  of  humility. 

Missionary.  We  acknowledge  the  duty, 
but  neither  boast  the  existence,  nor  vaunt 
the  character  of  humility.  That  all  who 
bear  the  name  are  not  Christians,  Mr. 
Chubb  is  a  proof.  How  can  the  Gospel  be 
tarnished  by  the  flaws  which  it  proscribes 
in  its  professors?  Discord  and  division  are 
as  wide  as  the  heavens  from  its  principles; 
and  in  every  denomination  not  only  have 
they  the  least  piety  who  claim  the  most,  but 
they  are  most  remote  from  evangelic  truth, 
who  are  most  censorious  of  the  opinions  of 
others.  Real  Christians  of  all  denomina¬ 
tions  agree  in  fundamentals,  can  worship 
together,  and  love  one  another.  Christian 
fortitude  consists  in  repressing  irregular  ap¬ 
petites,  affections,  and  passions,  and  in  bear¬ 
ing  all  things  when  called  to  suffer  for  the 
cause.  Every  true  Christian,  whatever  his 
native  ferocity,  possesses  the  childlike  dis¬ 
position,  and  such  are  compared  to  lambs 


123 


and  doves,  and  are  mild,  meek,  peaceful, 
gentle,  merciful  and  kind.  Their  Master, 
who  was  meek  and  lowly  of  heart,  sent 
forth  as  lambs  among  wolves,  the  first  he¬ 
ralds  of  the  Gospel;  and  such  are  its  terms, 
whatever  deviations  may  be  found  in  pro¬ 
fessors,  from  its  original  principles. 

Physician.  In  my  state  of  self  deception 
I  wished  no  harm  to  any;  I  loved  God  for 
his  benefits;  I  had  no  objection  to  his  law, 
because,  being  a  Christian,  I  thought  my¬ 
self  to  be  sale  from  its  curse ;  as  to  the  duty 
of  humility,  I  did  not  expect  to  see  myself 
humble,  and  thought  little  of  pride;  in 
short,  having  obtained  conversion,  I  thought 
my  chief  work  was  done,  and  thus  was  I 
fast  asleep. 

Missionary .  The  Christian’s  love  of  pu¬ 
rity  advances  with  his  holiness,  experience 
enhancing  his  desire,  without  danger  of 
satiety,  for  his  appetite  is  never  cloyed  : 
reaching  forward,  he  presses  toward  the 
mark  of  his  high  calling.  On  the  other 
hand,  from  the  same  cause,  as  his  sensibi- 


124- 


Sity  to  sin  becomes  more  exquisite,  his 
flaws  become  more  discernible,  and  are 
fresh  sources  of  humiliation  ;  if  his  face 
shines  like  Moses’,  he  is  ignorant  of  it. 
Nevertheless,  in  this  state  of  imperfection, 
he  is  liable  to  temptation,  and  may  sleep 
when  he  should  be  watching;  but  should 
the  bridegroom  come  at  such  period,  he 
has  oil,  and  need  not  go  to  buy.  These 
things  constitute  at  the  same  time  a  motive 
to  vigilance,  and  an  argument  against  des¬ 
pondency. 

Mate.  Should  there  be  a  future  general 
judgment,  which  you  think  is  proved  by 
natural  conscience,  and  the  fears  of  men, 
and  by  the  justice  of  Deity,  as  well  as  by 
your  Scriptures,  a  man’s  conduct  and  real 
character  must  have  greater  weight  in  the 
decision,  than  his  opinions;  consequently  I 
shall  not  be  condemned  for  my  negative 
creed,  if  my  works  have  been  good  and 
useful;  they  are  the  best  subjects,  who, 
unanxious  about  politics,  mind  their  own 
business. 


126 


Missionary.  Between  the  divine  go¬ 
vernment  and  those  that  are  human,  there 
is  some  disparity.  Man  may  profit  man, 
but  not  God;  if  our  actions  be  correct,  our 
intentions  are  less  important  to  our  fellow 
men,  who  cannot  search  the  heart.  But  to 
the  view  of  the  Creator  every  mind  is  un¬ 
covered,  and  our  intentions  must  character¬ 
ize  our  actions.  Your  conduct  will  be  es¬ 
timated  by  Him,  not  from  its  usefulness, 
for  this  might  be  the  same  whether  by 
your  actions  you  intended  to  oppose  or  to 
obey  his  laws;  and  if  you  have  always  re¬ 
jected  his  authority,  denied  allegiance  to 
him,  and  rejected  the  provision  he  has 
made  for  your  recovery,  and  nevertheless 
insist  upon  the  merits  of  your  own  defec¬ 
tive  obedience,  you  must  be  treated  as  his 
enemy. 

Captain.  This  representation  accords 
with  the  dictates  of  reason.  I  lived  with¬ 
out  God  in  the  world,  denying  his  exist¬ 
ence,  and  with  the  superciliousness  peculiar 
to  ignorance,  looked  with  contempt  upon 

l  2 


the  intellectual  imbecility  of  all  who  had 
gained  a  knowledge  of  Him.  Honour  was 
my  law,  which  produced  regularity  of  de¬ 
portment  on  shore,  and  discipline  and  de¬ 
corum  at  sea.  There  was  no  regard  to 
God,  or  his  government;  and  consequently 
no  intention  to  obey  him.  I  have  no  hesi¬ 
tation  in  pleading  guilty  on  ever}'  sem¬ 
blance  of  virtue  in  my  past  life. 

Physician.  The  frankness  of  your  con¬ 
fession,  Captain,  awakens  remorse  and 
shame  in  my  breast.  I  have  meanly  pre¬ 
tended  to  be  what  I  was  not;  had  my  dis¬ 
ingenuousness  been  played  off  to  my  fellow 
men  only,  my  crime  had  been  less;  but  it 
was  practised  in  the  most  solemn  ap¬ 
proaches  to  God,  in  his  commanded  ser¬ 
vices.  My  obedience  has  been  pretence; 
my  virtue,  guilt;  my  worship,  blasphemy. 
And  if  I  obtain  no  better  a  defence  when 
the  Eternal  shall  sit  in  judgment  on  my 
soul,  all  my  past  religion  must  be  pro¬ 
nounced  an  abomination,  and  the  whole 


127 


surrounding  assembly  of  angels,  men,  and 
devils,  must  approve  the  sentence. 

Mate.  My  mind  is  not  subject  to  enthu¬ 
siastic  tremors;  and  my  conscience,  in  the 
calm  and  impartial  judgment  which  I  pass 
upon  the  morality  of  my  past  conduct, 
does  not  condemn  me.  Faults  I  have 
committed,  as  all  men  have:  but  these  will 
be  found  not  to  bear  a  comparison  with 
those  of  an  opposite  character;  and  I  ought 
to  be,  if  tried,  rated  according  to  my  pre¬ 
vailing  character;  and  works  are  the  only 
infallible  proofs  of  a  man’s  real  standing. 

Missionary.  True  works  are  the  most 
veritable  evidences,  and  no  professions  are 
credible  when  unsupported  by  practice. 
But,  Mr.  Chubb,  if  there  be  no  religion, 
nor  even  profession  of  any,  what  is  there 
for  works  to  prove?  There  is  no  propriety 
in  speaking  of  proofs  and  evidence,  where 
nothing  is  to  be  established.  When  Chris¬ 
tians  speak  of  practice,  a  profession  of  reli¬ 
gion  is  always  supposed,  and  the  conduct 
of  the  party  is  the  best  evidence  of  its 


128 


truth;  deeds  being  more  credible  represen¬ 
tations  of  the  heart,  than  words:  they  are 
evidence  not  only  to  others,  but  to  the  be¬ 
liever  himself.  But  where  no  conviction 
exists  of  the  certainty  of  divine  things, 
works  may  be  good  as  to  their  tendency 
and  effects,  both  to  the  agent  and  to  others, 
but  they  are  not  obedience  to  God.  He 
who  derives  real  pleasure  from  the  con¬ 
templation  of  the  amiable  and  excellent  na¬ 
ture  of  divine  things  as  they  are  in  them¬ 
selves,  and  not  merely  because  of  the  re¬ 
lation  they  may  bear  to  himself;  the  good 
works  of  such  a  person,  are  the  regular 
fruits  and  proofs  of  the  moral  character  of 
his  disposition,  that  is  of  the  renovation  of 
his  nature.  Such  a  love  of  moral  purity 
must  discover  itself  wherever  it  exists,  in 
the  words  and  actions  of  its  possessor;  be¬ 
cause  such  is  the  bent  of  the  mind,  and  the 
obedience  of  the  soul  in  the  application  and 
exercise  of  all  its  faculties. 

Physician.  But  no  man  can  search  ano¬ 
ther’s  heart,  or  obtain  absolute  certainty 


1 20 


with  respect  to  the  state  of  his  soul;  con¬ 
sequently  confessions  and  external  appear¬ 
ances  are  by  no  means  infallible  evidences 
of  the  truth  of  gracious  influences;  for  I 
know  by  my  own  past  conversation,  that 
whilst  practising  deception  on  ourselves, 
we  may  not  only  cheat  the  world,  but  the 
best  saints,  and  receive  from  them  all  the 
tokens  of  Christian  love,  whilst  we  are  in 
ourselves,  aliens  and  enemies,  and  lovers 
of  iniquity. 

Missionary.  What  you  have  said  I  ac¬ 
knowledge,  Doctor,  to  be  true;  God  has 
reserved  to  himself  the  inspection  of  the 
heart,  and  upon  him  only,  is  it  impossible 
to  practice  deception.  But  it  does  not  fol¬ 
low,  that  good  works  may  not  be  the  most 
certain  of  all  the  marks  of  the  truth  of  a 
Christian  profession.  If  it  were  not  so, 
why  should  the  final  judgment  have  been 
appointed  to  discover  to  the  universe  the 
rectitude  of  the  divine  decisions,  on  each 
man’s  final  destinies,  by  the  exposure  of 
his  thoughts,  words  and  actions,  to  a  pub- 


130 


lie  investigation?  No  man  knows  God, 
who  in  works  denies  him;  there  is  no  re¬ 
pentance  without  a  change  of  conduct;  no 
faith  is  true  that  does  not  work  by  love; 
humility  excludes  all  other  proofs;  and 
hope  without  works  is  vain.  The  change 
of  a  man’s  inclinations  is  the  only  rational 
mean  of  knowing  the  safety  of  his  state, 
and  the  regular  proof  of  a  heart  to  do, 
is  doing.  The  difficulties  which  im¬ 
pede  or  obstruct  Christian  practice,  are 
trials  which  are  sent  to  exercise  our 
faith  and  patience,  for  our  own  informa- 
tation,  not  his,  who  sends  them.  And  the 
affliction  which  might  exasperate  the  unbe¬ 
liever,  will  produce  patience  in  the  real 
Christian;  and  this  will  furnish  him  with 
an  experimental  proof  of  his  real  standing, 
and  inspire  or  confirm  a  hope  which  will 
probably  never  be  confounded  or  disap¬ 
pointed,  but  be  changed  into  everlasting 
enjoyment. 

Physician.  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  wis¬ 
dom  and  goodness  of  the  divine  govern- 


131 


ment;  and  the  firm  belief  that  he  has  ever 
seen  the  obliquity  of  my  heart,  excites  my 
shame  and  self-abhorrence.  Whether  I 
shall  be  lost  or  saved  I  know  not;  but  I 
am  convinced  that  there  is  value  enough 
in  his  ransom  to  redeem  even  me.  But 
that  there  ought  to  be  examples  of  suffer¬ 
ing  may  be  inferred,  from  the  fact,  that 
there  are  such;  and  if  I  am  to  be  one,  I 
see  that  it  will  be  perfectly  just ;  I  will 
therefore  leave  the  matter  in  God’s  hands; 
yet  whilst  I  submit  unconditionally  to  his 
rightful  government,  I  am  resolved  that  I 
will  aim  to  obey  him  in  all  things,  and  never 
cease  to  pray. 

Missionary.  The  Sovereign  of  the  uni¬ 
verse  has  provided  a  way  in  which  he  may 
have  mercy,  and  will  show  it  as  he  pleases. 
But  He  will  never  condemn  the  innocent, 
nor  punish  but  when  justice  approves.  Yet 
the  glory  of  his  government  may  be  safe, 
and  justice  have  all  her  demands  in  the 
scheme  of  redemption.  Your  anxious  cares, 
and  hopeless  submission,  may  yet  be  sue- 


13  2 


ceeded  by  a  calm  and  peaceful  sense  of  that 
majestic  meekness,  and  mild  compassion, 
which  shall  change  your  sorrows  into  praise, 
and  your  theme  may  yet  be  the  freedom  of 
his  grace  in  Jesus  Christ. 

Mate.  1  admit  the  existence  of  Deity, 
and  all  that  is  necessary  to  His  character; 
and  have  often  thought  there  must  be  a 
particular  providence;  and  do  freely  sub¬ 
scribe,  Mr.  Andrews,  to  your  position, 
that  he  will  never  condemn  the  innocent; 
doubtless  also  you  will  not  deny  me  a  natu¬ 
ral  conscience;  what  therefore  can  be  the 
reason  that  you  would  not  speak  to  me,  I 
suppose  for  any  consideration,  the  consola¬ 
tory  language,  you  have  this  moment  utter¬ 
ed  for  the  comfort  of  the  Doctor? 

Missionary.  I  do  not  know  his  real 
state,  and  have  done  no  more  than  express 
a  hope,  which  might  prevent  despair,  or  a 
sinful  distrust  of  the  willingness  of  God  to 
save.  But  you  avow  yourself  to  stand  in 
the  ranks  of  natural  men,  who  receive  not 
the  things  of  the.  Spirit  of  God;  I  mean 


133 


of  unrenewed  men,  who  reject  the  truth  of 
divine  revelation.  No  one  has  a  right  re¬ 
pentance,  whilst  he  rejects  the  doctrine  of 
human  depravity;  nor  can  he  possess  the 
faith  of  the  Christian,  whilst  he  rejects  the 
plan  of  redemption.  True  religion  implies 
that  the  truth  should  not  only  be  seen  and 
receive  the  assent  of  the  party,  but  that  it 
should  be  realized  by  experience;  but  you 
neither  admit  moral  corruption,  nor  have 
any  experience  of  the  deceits  of  the  heart; 
you  neither  believe  the  glad  tidings  of  re¬ 
conciliation  nor  perceive  any  occasion  for 
them.  \ou  would  justly  despise  me,  were 
I  to  practice  flattery. 

Physician .  I  am  afraid,  Mr.  Andrews, 
that  I  have  gone  too  far,  in  saying  I  am 
resolved  that  I  will  aim  to  obey  him  in  all 
things ;  for  he  commands  me  to  believe,  but 
how  dare  I  believe  by  trusting  in  Christ? 
It  appears  presumptuous,  when  I  reflect 
upon  my  unworthiness. 

Missionary.  How  “  dare”  you  disobey 
trod,  by  refusing  to  believe  what  he  has 

M 


134 


said,  and  Christ  has  done  for  you.  I  hope, 
Doctor,  you  do  not  suppose,  that  there 
must  exist  some  previous  worthiness  to 
entitle  you  to  approach  and  believe  on 
Christ.  Should  this  be  your  view,  it  is 
unscriptural,  and  will  indeed  prevent  your 
believing,  for  it  places  an  insurmountable 
barrier  in  your  way ;  the  supposition  of 
which,  scarcely  accords  with  the  profession 
you  have  made  of  an  unconditional  submis¬ 
sion. 

Captain.  If  my  recollection  serves  me, 
almost  all,  whom  I  have  formerly  heard 
pray,  claim  the  character  of  those,  who 
believe,  and  have  been  restored  to  God; 
they  do  indeed,  for  the  most  part,  make 
some  acknowledgments  of  their  sinfulness, 
but  only  of  so  much  as  may  be  incident  to 
a  state  of  acceptance,  and  often  that  in  the 
language  of  an  apostle;  now  if  the  Doctor’s 
condition  appears  to  himself  to  be  that  of 
the  Publican  in  the  parable,  it  seems  pro¬ 
per,  that  his  prayers  and  confessions  should 
resemble  his. 


/ 


135 

Missionary.  Your  observation  is  a  pun¬ 
gent  charge,  founded  in  too  much  truth. 
It  is  to  be  hoped,  that  the  private  prayers 
of  many,  who  thus  pray  in  public,  are  of  a 
different  kind.  To  claim  to  be  the  subjects 
of  grace  in  our  addresses  to  the  throne, 
when  we  may  have  no  evidence  of  the 
fact,  but  harassing  fears  of  the  contrary, 
must  be  highly  criminal.  Humility  might 
easily  substitute  language  in  which  all 
could  conscientiously  unite.  The  conduct 
of  the  early  Christian  assemblies  was  not 
to  be  justified,  who  excluded  those  from 
prayer,  whom  they  judged  unable  with  truth 
to  say,  “  Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven/’ 
That  the  Doctor’s  prayers  should  agree 
with  his  views  of  his  own  state  is  correct, 
but  his  refusing  to  receive  the  offers  of  the 
gospel,  because  of  his  unworthiness,  is  a 
dangerous  error.  If  instead  of  accepting 
the  offer  of  mercy,  and  confessing  our  sins 
in  the  view  of  the  only  sacrifice,  we  turn 
aside,  that  we  may  obtain  worthiness  in 
some  other  way,  we  add  crime  to  transgres- 


136 


sion,  and  renounce  the  salvation  which  God 
has  tendered.  The  prayer  of  faith  is  not 
presumptuous,  but  the  greater  our  guilt,  the 
greater  need  is  there  of  such  prayers;  and 
if  we  cannot  venture  to  speak  in  the  lan¬ 
guage  of  children  adopted  in  Christ,  we  are 
permitted,  and  ought  to  go  to  the  throne  of 
mercy,  as  perishing  sinners. 

Physician.  I  remember  that  David 
prayed,  “  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart;”  and 
another  said,  “Help  my  unbelief;”  I  will 
change  the  style  of  my  addresses.  I  have 
no  other  help  or  hope;  and  fear,  that  if  I 
thus  succumb  to  temptation,  that  I  shall  ne¬ 
ver  find  acceptance. 

Missionary.  Comfort  may  be  drawn,  di¬ 
rectly  from  the  doctrine  of  the  sacrifice  of 
Christ.  And  if  a  sinner  will  abandon  every 
other  hope,  and  trust  in  this  only  name  un¬ 
der  heaven,  by  which  he  may  be  saved, 
there  is  nothing  to  hinder  his  salvation. 
The  invitations  to  do  this,  are  not  confined 
to  those,  who  are  previously  endowed  with 
prerequisites  ;  hardness  of  heart  and  unbe- 


137 


lief  exist  in  believers  themselves.  There 
may  be  despondency,  a  poverty  of  spirit 
and  contrition,  where  there  is  a  real  grief 
springing  from  the  reflection,  that  the  party 
has  opposed  the  kindest  and  best  of  Beings. 
Where  the  sorrow  is  on  account  of  that  for 
which  Christ  suffered,  it  is  a  good  sign;  but 
if  it  be  a  distress,  which  keeps  the  party 
from  a  willingness  to  come  to,  and  depend 
on  Christ,  it  may  be  like  that  of  Judas. 
Here  are  rocks  on  every  hand,  white  with 
bones.  It  is  not  every  affliction  concerning 
our  salvation  that  is  a  godly  sorrow  ;  nor 
every  joy  that  which  follows  the  fruit  of 
the  Spirit.  Also  to  deny  that  the  sinner 
has  power  to  turn  to  God  through  Christ, 
and  to  counsel  him  to  pray  for  it,  is  an  ob¬ 
vious  contradiction,  if  such  prayer  must  be 
that  of  faith  ;  repentance  and  faith  are  as 
much  within  a  sinner’s  power  as  such 
prayer.  The  word  of  God  exhibits  the  true 
course,  when  it  promises  rest  to  the  soul 
to  all  who  come  to  Jesus,  and  take  his 
yoke  upon  them. 

m  2 


138 


Captain.  I  am  persuaded  of  the  truth  of 
all  the  advice  which  Mr.  Andrews  has 
given  us;  the  more  we  yield  to  slavish  fears, 
and  suffer  ourselves  to  be  deterred  from  the 
performance  of  commanded  duty,  the  less 
able  shall  we  find  ourselves  to  accomplish 
it.  When  a  few  of  the  ship’s  company  suf¬ 
fer  themselves  to  be  intimidated  in  a  trying 
time,  the  whole  crew  are  weakened,  irre¬ 
solute,  and  unable  to  expend  half  their 
usual  energies.  Doctor,  you  are  fully  sen¬ 
sible  of  the  importance  of  keeping  up  the 
spirits  of  debilitated  patients. 

Missionary .  When  nothing  in  ourselves, 
we  can  do  all  things  by  imparted  strength. 
Our  guilt  and  helplessness  are  always  far  - 
beyond  our  calculations;  but  He  who  pro¬ 
mises  can,  and  will  perform;  and  when  He 
commands  us  to  extend  a  withered  arm,  we 
have  only  to  essay,  and  it  will  go  forth  re¬ 
stored  to  its  size  and  power,  by  Him  who 
works  in  us  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  own 
good  pleasure. 

Mate.  I  perceive,  gentlemen,  that  our 


139 


conversations  have  had  the  effect  to  bring 
you  to  an  accordance  on  the  topics  discuss¬ 
ed;  but  candour  requires  me  to  confess  that 
I  retain  my  old  sentiments,  except  in  a  few 
things,  in  which  I  confess  Mr.  Andrews  to 
have  sought  a  little  deeper.  You  all  have 
had  greater  advantages  of  education;  all 
that  I  can  promise  is,  that  should  I  arrive  at 
the  same  convictions  which  you  profess,  I 
will  not  be  backward  to  avow  the  change, 
for  truth  I  pursue,  and  to  her  will  I  submit 
wherever  found. 

Missionary.  The  door  of  the  gospel  has 
been  opened  to  you,  Mr.  Chubb,  and  if 
you  do  not  choose  to  enter,  it  is  because  of 
unbelief.  If  either  it  be  not  the  truth,  or 
destitute  of  evidence  competent  to  its  sup¬ 
port,  you  are  under  no  necessity  to  receive 
it.  But  remember,  that  faith  in  Christ  is 
not  a  merely  cold  assent  to  preponderating 
proofs;  the  excellence  and  suitableness  of 
the  gospel  to  the  condition  of  perish¬ 
ing  men,  must  arrest  your  feelings,  and 
influence  your  decision  and  conduct. 


140 


What  speculative  views  you  may  in  fu¬ 
ture  form  of  it,  and  of  the  subjects  on 
which  we  have  now  dispassionately  dis¬ 
coursed,  will  be  of  no  avail  without  an  aban¬ 
donment  of  self  righteousness,  and  an  unre¬ 
served  submission  to  the  terms  of  mercy. 
You  have  commenced  an  existence,  which 
death,  instead  of  terminating,  will  enlarge; 
eternity  will  then  lie  open  before  you, 
and  if  you  are  really  sinless,  you  have  no¬ 
thing  to  fear,  for  God  is  just.  But  if  in¬ 
volved  in  guilt,  you  will  then  discover  that 
the  world,  and  all  you  might  offer  as  a  ran¬ 
som,  have  passed  away,  and  no  sorrows  can 
stay  the  execution  of  the  sentence  of  Divine 
Justice.  At  present,  you  appear  to  be  at 
variance  with  yourself;  your  speculations 
make  sin  to  be  no  more  than  a  misfortune, 
the  fault  being  removed  by  a  necessity  of 
erring,  whilst  your  conscience,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  lethargic  influence  of  mistaken 
reason,  denies  the  plea  of  innocence.  But 
I  make  it  my  last  appeal  to  yourself,  as 
you  must  answer  it  at  the  great  day  of  ac- 


141 


count,  whether  you  are  not  what  you 
choose  to  be;  and  if  to  this  you  dare  not 
refuse  your  assent,  I  have  only  to  add,  that 
the  blame  of  your  destruction  will  eter¬ 
nally  rest  upon  your  own  head. 


THE  END. 


I 


LECTURES 

ON  THE 

GOSPEL  OF  ST.  MATTHEW; 

DELIVERED  IN  THE 

PARISH  CHURCH  OF  ST.  JAMES,  WESTMINSTER, 

In  the  Years  1793,  1799,  1300,  and  1801, 

BY  THE  RIGHT  REVEREND 

BIELBY  PORTEUS,  D.  D. 

BISHOP  OF  LONDON. 


CONTENTS. 

LECTURE  I. — A  Compendious  View  of  the  Sacred  Writings. 

LECTURE  II. — Matthew  ii.  The  Arrival  and  Offerings  of  the  Wise  Men  at 
Bethlehem. 

LECTURE  III. — Matthew  iii.  History  and  Doctrines  of  John  the  Baptist. 

LECTURE  IV. — Matthew  iv.  Former  Part.  Temptation  of  Christ  in  the 
Wilderness. 

LECTURE  V.— Matthew  iv.  Latter  Part.  Choice  of  the  Apostles. — Begin¬ 
ning  of  Miracles. 

LECTURE  VI. — Matthew  v.  Our  Lord’s  Sermon  on  the  Mount. 

LECTURE  VII. — Matthew  vi.  and  vii.  Continuation  of  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount. 

LECTURE  VIII.-— Matthew  viii.  Conduct  and  Character  of  the  Roman  Cen¬ 
turion. 

LECTURE  IX. — Matthew  x.  Our  Lord’6  Instructions  to  his  Apostles. 

LECTURE  X. — Matthew xii.  Observation  of  theSabbath;  Demoniac;  Blasphe 
my  against  the  Holy  Ghost. 

LECTURE  XI. — Matthew  xiii.  Nature  and  Use  of  Parables. 

LECTURE  XII. — Matthew  xiii.  continued.  Parable  of  the  Sower  explained 

LECTURE  XIII.— Matthew  xiii.  continued.  Parable  of  the  Tares  explained. 

LECTURE  XIV. — Matthew  xiv.  History  of  Herod  and  Herodias. — Death  of 
Johp  the  Baptist. 

LECTURE  XV. — Matthew  xvii.  The  Transfiguration  of  Christ. 

LECTURE  XVI. — Matthew  xviii.  Making  our  Brother  to  offend. — Parable  of 
the  unforgiving  Servant. 

LECTURE  XVII.— Matthew  xix.  The  means  of  attaining  Eternal  Life.— 
Difficulty  of  a  Rich  Man  entering  inlo  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven. 

LECTURE  XVIII. — Matthew  xxii.  Parable  of  the  Marriage  Feast. — Insidious 
Questions  put  to  Christ. — The  Two  great  Commandments. 

LECTURE  XIX. — Matthew  xxiv.  Our  Lord’s  Prediction  of  the  Siege  and 
Destruction  of  Jerusalem. 

LECTURE  XX. — Matthew  xxiv,  xxv.  Further  Remarks  on  the  same  Proph¬ 
ecy. — Parables  of  the  Ten  Virgins  and  Ihe  Talen's. — Day  of  Judgment. 

LECTURE  XXI. — Matthew  xxvi.  Institution  of  the  Lord’s  Supper. — Our 
Lord's  Agony  in  the  Garden. — Betrayed  by  Judas.— Carried  before  the  High 
Priest. 

LECTURE  XXII. — Matthew  xxvii.  Christ  carried  before  Pilate — tried— con¬ 
demned — and  crucified. 

LECTURE  XXIII. — Matthew  xxvii,  xxviii.  Doctrine  of  Redemption. — Burial 
and  Resurrection  of  our  Blessed  I/>rd. 

LECTURE  XXIV. — Matthew  xxviii.  The  Mysteries  of  Christianity.— Con¬ 
clusion  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  and  of  the  Lectures. 

Published  by  E.  Littell,  No.  136  Chesnut- 
Street,  Philadelphia. 


PRIVATE  THOUGHTS  UPON  RELIGION, 
AND  A  CHRISTIAN  LIFE. 

IN  TWO  PARTS, 

BY  WILLIAM  BEVERIDGE,  D.  D. 

LORD  BISHOP  OF  ST.  ASAPH. 


CONTENTS. 

Thoughts  on  Religion,  consisting  of  twelve  articles,  in  which  the  leading 
doctrines  of  Christianity  are  established. 

PART  I. 

Written  in  his  YouDger  years,  for  the  settling  of  his  Principles,  and  Conduct 
of  his  Life. 

RESOLUTIONS  FORMED  FROM  THE  FOREGOING  ARTICLES. 
Concerning  my  conversation  in  general. 

Concerning  my  thoughts. 

Concerning  my  affections. 

Concerning  my  words. 

Concerning  my  actions. 

Concerning  my  relations. 

Concerning  my  talent*. 

PART  IT. 

Written  by  him  in  his  Riper  Years,  and  printed  from  his  original  Manu- 
scripts. 

On  the  Education  of  a  Christian- 
On  the  Knowledge  of  God. 

On  the  Mystery  of  the  Trinity. 

On  Worldly  Riches. 

On  Self-Denial. 

On  striving  to  enter  at  the  strait  gate. 

On  the  Imitation  of  Christ. 

On  our  call  and  election. 

On  the  appearance  of  Christ  the  Sun  of  Righteousness. 

Published  by  E.  Littell,  No.  136  Chesnut- 
Street,  Philadelphia. 


A  TREATISE  ON  PRATER, 

DESIGNED 

TO  ASSIST  IN  THE  DEVOUT  DISCHARGE  OF 
THAT  DUTY. 

EY  THE 


REV.  EDW.  BICKERSTETH, 

Assistant  Minister  of  JVhcler  Chapel. 

CONTENTS. 


1.  The  Nature  and  Duty  of  I  rayer. 

2.  The  Privilege  of  Prayer. 

3.  The  Assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

4.  The  Intercession  of  Jesus  Christ. 

5.  Private  Prayer. 

6.  Public  Worship. 

7.  Family  Worship. 

8.  Social  Prayer. 

9.  The  General  Habit  of  Prayer. 

JO.  Th4  Spirit  of  Prayer  for  the  En¬ 
largement  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ. 

11.  Distractions  in  Prayer. 

12.  On  Devotional  Feelings  merely. 

13.  Directions  to  assist  in  attaining  the 
Spirit  of  Prayer. 

14.  An  Exhortation  to  constant  Prayer. 

15.  Forms  of  Prayer. 

A  Prayer  for  the  Gift  and  Grace  of 
Prayer. 

Private  Morning  Prayer. 


Another  Private  Morning  Prayer. 
Private  Prayer  at  Noon. 
Intercessory  Prayer  at  Noon. 
Private  Evening  Prayer. 

Another  Private.  Evening  Prayer- 
Prayer  before  the  Lord’s  Supper. 
Prayer  after  the  Lord  s  Supper. 
Morning  Family  Prajer. 

Another  Morning  Family  Prayer. 
Evening  Family  Prayer. 

Another  Evening  Family  Prayer. 
Sunday  Morning  Family  Prayer. 
Sunday  Evening  Family  Prayer. 
Prayer  for  a  Sunday  School. 

Prayer  for  a  Benevolent  Society. 

A  Social  Prayer. 

Prayer  for  the  Enlargement  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ. 

Another  on  the  same  subject 
Ejaculatory  Prayers  from  the 
Scriptures. 


A  neat  and  cheap  edition  is  just  published  by 
E.  LITTELL,  136  Chestnut-street ,  Philadelphia. 


**# 

.  .  : 

*■# 

‘ 

#»■ 

* 


..  t 

*  •«  AJ 


Princ«°n  Theological 


S™  hary-Speer  Library 


Published  by  E.  X. it  tell  &  Brother. 


The  RELIGIOUS  M  GAZINE,  or  Spirit  of  Fo  eign 
Theological  Journal  and  Reviews, 


The  MUSEUM  of  Foreigi  Literature  and  Science 

(The  above  works  are  pub  •.:><■)  t  ever}  month,  t>' 
dollars  a  year.; 


The  REMEMBER  ME.  (Tins  is  a  volume  upon  the 
plan  of  the  Souvenirs,  Forget  Me  Not,  <tec.;  hut  it 
is  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  Religious  Publio,  and 
was  published  in  consequence  of  a  general  expres¬ 
sion  of  the  opinion  that  such  a  work  would  be  highly 
important.  It  has  been  very  favourably  received. 
It  contain:'  5  beautiful  engravings.  Price,  bound 
in  silk,  #1.75.) 

r- 

HORNE’S  INTRODUCTION  to  ‘he  Critical  S‘u<3y 
and  Knowledge  ot  the  Scripture.  £*  | 


VERIDCE’S  PRIVATE  THOUGHTS 


s  s  lectur: 


7  _  ’ 


